The 70 invited riders for the second year of the Mazda-sponsored Lifetime Grand Prix were announced late Thursday, with defending champion Haley Smith and Keegan Swenson set to compete again next year.

Organizers expanded the field of riders from 30 in each category in the inaugural year to 35 professional women and 35 professional men. As an added incentive, Lifetime will pay for selected riders to participate in series events.

New riders who did not participate in the inaugural series are Lauren De Crescenzo and Matt Beers. De Crescenzo, who mixes road and gravel racing with the Cinci Cycling professional team, won the Unbound Gravel 200 in 2021 and finished second in 2022 behind winner and overall Grand Prix runner-up Sofia Gomez Villafagne.

"I am ready to compete in the premier off-road series in North America," de Crescenzo said in a Lifetime media release. 'I wasn't ready in 2022, but I've been working out in MTB and cyclocross races three times a week, and I'm ready to take on 2023 and try to win the overall series.'

South Africa's Beers, winner of the 2021 Cape Epic, finished seventh in the Leadville MTB 100 this year, but is not in the series.

"I think we can show that racing in Europe is not the only way for South Africans to show their strength. And we can show that gravel is becoming a realistic option for riders in the future," said the 28-year-old from Cape Town.

Among the other new names on this year's start list are France's Caroline Mani and a group of cyclocross riders in reigning Pan American Champion American riders Raylyn Nass and Crystal Anthony, while the pro women's field includes former US Elite men's champion Eric Brunner and current U.S. men's singles speed champion Kelly Warner.

"After watching this season, I was intrigued by the format and skill set required to win the overall. I think the most well-rounded cyclists will come out on top. I'm excited for the chance to be part of the world's premier gravel series and embrace the gravel culture," Nuss said.

Riders like Gomez Villafagne, Sarah Sturm, Emily Newsome, Alexei Vermeulen, Russell Finsterwald, and Cole Paton, all of whom were at the top of the leaderboard in 2022, will be back in the fight. fourth place finisher Rose Grant has retired from the race, Evelyn Dong in 8th place overall, and Melissa Rollins in 10th place overall.

In 2023, a seventh race will be added and the format will change significantly: the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California, on April 9 will feature the Fuego Cross Country Mountain Bike Race, which has been extended from 80 km to 100 km. The wild card will be announced in mid-January.

The total prize money will remain the same at $250,000 and will be split equally between the top 10 men and women at the end of the series. The top male and female finishers will each receive $25,000. The standings to determine the top 10 will be based on points earned in any of the five events.

Each of the three events, Fuego XL at the Sea Otter Classic, Crusher in the Tushar at the Chequamegon MTB Festival, and the Sea Otter Classic, will have individual cash prizes, as will the Lifetime Grand Prix competitors.

The final event of the series, the Lifetime Big Sugar Gravel on October 21, is mandatory for all riders, with tiebreakers if necessary.