Ahead of the Life Time Rad Dirt Fest on Saturday, September 28th, star riders Alexey Vermeulen, Deanna Mayles, Paige Onweller and Payson McElveen have all shared their thoughts:
Alexey Vermeulen – Defending Men’s Champion
I’m looking forward to the Rad Dirt Fest and it’s a race that suits me well. That’s the beauty of the Life Time Grand Prix, you have to be good at all different types of competition. We’ve got two really hard events left to go this series, so we’ll see what I can make of them. My confidence is good, Chequamegon didn’t turn out as I’d planned, but it was alright and I know races don’t always go your way, and fortunately I haven’t had that much bad luck over the last three years, so I’m still positive.
“I’ve been enjoying time at home between Chequamegon and this race. I think the action will play out somewhat similarly to last year, unless someone like Keegan [Swenson] launches an early attack. It’ll be fast and I’ll need to stay in the mix. I’m expecting to see a small group sprint to the finish line again.
Deanna Mayles – Top 10 Finisher in 2023
Being the fourth highest-ranked Life Time Grand Prix rider at Chequamegon was my best result of the series over the last two years, so that was something to be proud of, and I feel like I’m making really good progress. One of my goals is to finish in the top 10 overall, which is a tough task as I also work full-time as an engineer for SRAM, and means I have less time and energy to devote to the series than some other riders, but I’m certainly still passionate.
“As someone who live in Colorado Springs, the Rad Dirt Fest is semi-local for me. As well as racing it last year, I’ve spent a couple of weekends over the last few years riding the course, so I’m definitely familiar with it. I also live at a similar altitude, so that should hopefully work in my favor, and the terrain is similar to what I’m used to.
Paige Onweller – Second Overall in the Series
I’m stoked to be sitting in second overall, which I think has surprised a lot of people. I had surgery at the beginning of the year and had to sit Sea Otter out, but the season is long, and historically I’ve finished it on a strong note. I think, when you’ve had a mid-season injury, you finish the season still feeling very hungry, and that’s the position I’m in now, especially going into two pure gravel events that suit me well, and that I’ve been targeting.
“I didn’t come into this season aiming for the overall win, but now I’ve changed my mindset. I had a flight booked to Belgium for UCI Gravel World Championships, which I’ve since cancelled, so I’m all in for the Life Time Grand Prix, and I’m really going to focus on doing the best I can. My goals for the next two races are simple; I need to win one of them, and I need a podium. The points are tight, but I have the potential to win. A lot needs to go right for that to happen, and we have a very strong women’s field, so I don’t underestimate the challenge ahead. I’m just going to keep focusing on my process, my goals, and my execution – doing what I need to do. I’m proud of myself for putting myself in this position, and I think, as an athlete, that’s all you can ask for.
Payson McElveen – Joint Third Overall in the Men’s Competition
After Chequamegon I picked up COVID so have spent the last week laying low, not riding, trying to get healthy. I actually considered skipping this race but the points are getting interesting; I’m in a great spot to try to finish second overall, and if everything falls into place, the win isn’t even out of the question. I’m intending to ride somewhat defensively as I have no idea how I’ll feel, but I’m looking forward to the opportunity to show what I can do here after having a pretty big mechanical issue last year.
“There’s tons to play for and it’s really exciting how many different dynamics are playing out. A bunch of the strongest riders were racing the Marathon World Championships on Sunday, and they all have to fly across the country now and only have five days to recover after a tough, five-hour race on a completely different bike. Then you have a guy like Torbjørn Andre Røed, who’s been in Europe for the last month, who’s always good on courses like the Rad. Technically, there’s 20 guys who could still finish in the top three, so it’s still very exciting.
Life Time The Rad Dirt Fest is the newest addition to the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda, having made its debut last year. The action starts and finishes in the historic town of Trinidad, and over 113 grueling miles, the route traverses the remote and rugged Spanish Peaks and expansive mesas of Southern Colorado, racking up 10,613 feet of climbing along the way.
The first sustained ascent of the day comes on the Burro Canyon Road, but it’s the suitably titled ‘Big Climb’ which is likely to do the damage. An average gradient of 3% might not sound like much, but the fact that it’s over 20 miles means it’ll require a long and sustained effort before topping out at 8,300 feet above sea level. From there, the last 50 miles will be fast, and we could see some late attacks on the rocky two-track at Trinidad Lake State Park before the race reaches its conclusion.
Photos courtesy Life Time
