The 2025 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik delivered an unforgettable finale to the Life Time Grand Prix series in Bentonville, Arkansas. Racing on a weather-shortened 50-mile course, riders battled intense conditions and fierce competition. In the end, Sofía Gómez Villafañe and Matthew Beers powered to victory, while Cameron Jones sealed the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix overall title in a dramatic sprint finish. The event capped off another thrilling season of gravel racing that showcased the sport’s top talent and the growing prestige of Life Time’s endurance series.
Sofía Gómez Villafañe and Matthew Beers claimed top honors at the 2025 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel, while Cameron Jones secured the overall Life Time Grand Prix title in a thrilling mass sprint to the finish line. Gómez Villafañe had already locked up the women’s overall title at Life Time Little Sugar MTB, provided she started today’s race.
Shortened Course Creates Dynamic Racing Conditions
Forecasted inclement weather shortened the season finale to 50 miles but produced fast, unpredictable racing across both the men’s and women’s fields.
Matthew Beers Powers to First Series Win
Matthew Beers initiated an early breakaway alongside Matthew Wilson and Riley Amos (Team USA MTB, not part of the Grand Prix roster). Beers eventually went solo in the closing miles to take his first win of the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix series.
Wilson suffered a mechanical late in the race, while Griffin Easter joined Amos to battle for the podium—Easter narrowly edging out Amos for second place. Julien Gagne claimed fourth ahead of a charging peloton.
Cameron Jones Out-Sprints Rivals to Secure the Overall Grand Prix Title
Series contenders Keegan Swenson, Cameron Jones, Simon Pellaud, and Torbjørn Andre Røed marked each other closely throughout the day, knowing the overall title would be decided by their finishing order. Jones sealed his victory by taking the bunch sprint for fifth place, earning enough points to win the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix overall.
Gómez Villafañe Dominates Women’s Race with Solo Victory
In the women’s race, repeated attacks were launched but neutralized until the closing kilometers. Sofía Gómez Villafañe and Lauren Stephens (USA National Gravel Champion, not part of the Grand Prix) made a decisive move to go clear of the group.
Gómez Villafañe distanced Stephens to take a solo win, while Stephens held off the chasing pack for second. Stella Hobbs sprinted in for third, followed by Alexis Skarda and Courtney Sherwell in fourth and fifth.
U23 Category Winners Announced
Alexandra Charles and Jonas Woodruff earned victories in the women’s and men’s U23 categories at Life Time Big Sugar Gravel.
2025 Life Time Grand Prix Series Recap
Jones Wins Overall Men’s Title After Season-Long Battle
With just two points separating the top four riders heading into Big Sugar Gravel, the men’s title was wide open. Cameron Jones, who entered the season as a Wild Card rider, clinched the overall championship with his fifth-place finish in Bentonville.
Gómez Villafañe Captures Third Consecutive Women’s Grand Prix Title
Sofía Gómez Villafañe officially secured her third straight Life Time Grand Prix overall title after her dominant season, wrapping things up at Life Time Little Sugar MTB the previous weekend. Cecily Decker edged Melisa Rollins for second overall in today’s finale.
Looking Ahead: Automatic Qualifiers Announced for 2026
New for 2026, the top five overall finishers in the men’s and women’s 2025 Life Time Grand Prix standings will automatically qualify for next year’s series, along with the U23 category winners.
Reactions from the Life Time Big Sugar Gravel
Matthew Beers, Life Time Big Sugar Gravel winner, said:
I’m really good at this type of effort coming from the Mountain Biking side, so I knew I just had to go full gas, commit 100% and put my head down.
“I’ve been wanting to win one of these for so long now, and I’ve come second a few times. It was a shortened version, so it was a different dynamic of racing, so I’m glad I finally got a Life Time Grand Prix victory.
Cameron Jones, 2025 Life Time Grand Prix Series winner, said:
Today was exciting, I wasn’t concerned when they shortened the course as the 50-mile suits me just as well [as the 100-mile]. We pulled most attacks back today just by marking each other in the bunch. It was a long sprint, but I managed to hold onto it as there was a lot on the line!
“I’ve proven my point that I belong in the Life Time Grand Prix and couldn’t have done any better. It’s been an awesome year, and I’m sure I’ll be back for it again next year.
Keegan Swenson, 2025 Life Time Grand Prix Series fourth place, said
Today was a tricky and tactical race; I had no choice but to give it all I had, but I knew I was going to be up against it. It’s been a great year, but some of my races didn’t go as I wanted; but that’s cycling.
Sofía Gómez Villafañe, Women’s 2025 Life Time Grand Prix winner, said:
I thrive in chaos, and with the uncertainty today, with the weather, I knew it was going to deliver some really exciting racing. I reconed the 50-mile course with Matthew Beers yesterday, which might have been a smart tactic, as I knew where the pinch points were.
I’m super excited to wrap up the Life Time Grand Prix title and win Little and Big with a clean sweep in Bentonville. It’s such a good note to end on, and no crashes, which is great.
Cecily Decker, Women’s 2025 Life Time Grand Prix Series second place, said:
It was full gas from the start, I felt pretty good and was happy where I was, but midway through the day, I felt like it was going to end in a bunch sprint. Melisa and I were really tight on points, so I’m really happy to have got it just at the end.
I’ve had an amazing year, I’m just super grateful for how it all ended, and today, no matter what happened, I think I can look back and just be really, really happy with the year I’ve had.
I’ll definitely be coming back to the Life Time Grand Prix next year as it’s everything I love about cycling. I love to come back to the same place year after year, so it really suits me too.
Michelle Duffy, VP Marketing, Life Time Events, said:
The weather kept us on our toes right up to the wire today, which is why we decided to cut down the 100-mile distance to keep everyone safe, but that didn’t dampen the atmosphere in Bentonville with electric finishes in both women’s and men’s races.
“This year marked the successful debut of our U23 competition and Wild Card categories, and it’s been incredible to share the action unfold with fans worldwide with our live broadcast across UNBOUND Gravel, Leadville Trail 100, and Big Sugar has also been incredible.
Life Time Big Sugar Results
Full ResultsPhotos – Life Time Grand Prix
