The Life Time Grand Prix Will Now Follow a Best Four Out of Six Format
with the Next Race Being the Leadville Trail 100 MTB on August 10
The Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda was set to return for the third race of the Series on Saturday, July 13th with the Life Time Crusher in the Tushar.
This was arguably the toughest 69.9-mile race on the planet and is the only gravel contest in the world to feature a true mountain-top finish, sitting 10,268 feet (3,130 meters) above sea level at the Eagle Point Ski Resort.
Unfortunately, the 2024 edition of the Life Time Crusher in the Tushar has been cancelled due to the ongoing forest fires. A statement by Life Time explained,
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the cancellation of this year’s Life Time Crusher in the Tushar, scheduled for Saturday, July 13, due to the ongoing Silver King and Little Twist forest fires in the Piute County area, home to more than half of the Crusher course, as well as extreme fire risk from record-breaking hot and dry temperatures.
We have made this difficult decision after:
– Evaluating and consulting with a number of local resources
– With respect for the local emergency services teams, working hard to protect their communities
– With respect to the risk of extremely poor air quality. The safety of our athletes, volunteers, partners, and community, as well as the proper use of emergency services, are our top priorities.The Life Time Grand Prix will now follow a best four out of six format, allowing athletes to count their top four performances out of the six scheduled events.
Pro Men and Women Athletes
Both the men’s and women’s Life Time events feature some of the best gravel riders that were expected to animate the 2024 edition of the Crusher in the Tushar including:
Payson McElveen (United States)
Payson hinted at what he was capable of in this competition last season with his fourth-placed finish at Chequamegon. He has enjoyed a strong start to the 2024 series, backing up his sixth place at Sea Otter by becoming the second-best Life Time Grand Prix finisher at UNBOUND (ending that race in 8th place). Those results mean he is just one point behind Keegan Swenson in second place overall. He has impressed in this race in the past, crossing the line in fifth position in 2022.
Lachlan Morton (Australia)
All eyes will be on Lachlan after his phenomenal triumph at UNBOUND last month where he proved the fastest finisher in a two-up sprint with Chad Haga after over nine hours and 200 miles on tough gravel roads. The Australian will also be buoyed after signing a new contract with EF Pro Cycling and has impressed in his two previous participations at Crusher, backing up his seventh-placed finish in 2022 with fourth last season.
Cole Paton (United States)
Cole currently sits 17th on the overall standings but that’s largely on account of him not riding UNBOUND Gravel 200. His fourth-place finish at Sea Otter proved his impressive credentials earlier this season and he has also proved a stand-out performer at Crusher over the past two editions, finishing runner-up in 2022 and in the top five last year. Cole should once again be among the front-runners for the 2024 edition.
Peter Stetina (United States)
Peter has enjoyed mixed fortunes in the Life Time Grand Prix so far this term, finishing Sea Otter in 18th place and taking 16th at UNBOUND (where he was the ninth-best Life Time Grand Prix finisher). Crusher is an event where the Californian has always excelled though. He won the race in 2021, finished fourth in 2022 and then took the runner-up spot in 2023. The mountainous terrain certainly suits this strong and seasoned climber.
Keegan Swenson (United States)
Keegan got his 2024 campaign off to a perfect start by claiming a dominant victory at Sea Otter but was only the seventh-highest placed Life Time Grand Prix finisher at UNBOUND (crossing the line in 14th place overall). The 30 year old from Park City will be looking to reassert his authority in his home state, and comes into the race as two-time defending champion after incredible solo successes in 2022 and 2023.
Lauren De Crescenzo (United States)
Lauren’s confidence will be sky high heading into Crusher after triumphing at the mountainous Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina last week, and her solo attack and top-10 finish at UNBOUND proves she’s hit a rich vein of form. Crusher is a race that suits this fast and focused climber; she took second place last season and will be gunning for the top step on the podium this time around.
Sofia Gomez Villafane (Argentina)
This is the first time since the start of 2023 that Sofia hasn’t been sitting at the top of the Life Time Grand Prix standings, and the Argentine will be aiming to put that right in Utah. Crusher is a race she excelled in, having won it twice before in 2021 and 2023, both times crossing the finish line on her own after two dominant climbing displays.
Paige Onweller (United States)
After being forced to miss Sea Otter following ankle surgery, Paige made up for lost time in the best-possible way at UNBOUND, taking maximum points with her third-placed finish in Emporia. That saw her leap to seventh in the overall Life Time Grand Prix standings.
Hannah Otto (United States)
Consistency has been key for Hannah so far this season. She backed up her third-placed finish at Sea Otter by becoming the fifth highest-placed Life Time Grand Prix rider at UNBOUND (crossing the line in eighth position). Those results mean she sits in second place currently, just four points behind Haley Smith. The home favorite is more-than capable of holding her own on the climbs.
Haley Smith (Canada)
Haley swept to the top of the women’s standings on account of her being the second Life Time Grand Prix athlete over the line at UNBOUND Gravel 200 (in fourth place on the day). That followed an equally impressive fourth-placed finish at Sea Otter. The Canadian became the first-ever winner of the Life Time Grand Prix in 2022 and is also a former winner of this race, having triumphed by over eight minutes in that unforgettable debut season.
The remaining 2024 Life Time Grand Prix Events:
August 10 – 100 Mile MTB at Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
Starting at 10,152 feet and amassing approximately 12,000 feet of elevation over 100 gueling miles, the Race across the Sky is the ultimate test of grit, guts and determination, making it one of the most prestigious cross-country MTB events in the world.
September 14 – 40 Mile MTB at Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek
This spectacular MTB race takes athletes on a rollercoaster ride across the American Birkebeiner Ski Trail, with back-to-back climbs and a multitude of surfaces, serving up a real war of attrition before the winner is crowned at the Great Hall in Cable.
September 28 – 110 Mile Gravel at Life Time The Rad Dirt Fest
This out-and-back trek takes in the towering Spanish Peaks and expansive mesas for which Southern Colorado is famous – complete with 10,613 feet of climbing and a host of uniquely challenging terrain along the way.
October 19 – 100 Mile Gravel at Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda
100 miles of gloriously chunky gravel and 7,000 feet of remote, rugged and spectacular climbing across the Ozark Mountains awaits the riders before the curtain falls on the 2024 series in Bentonville.
