A trio of Canadians highlight 2024 Life Time Grand Prix roster

The second edition of the Life Time Grand Prix series only recently wrapped up, with 2022 champion Haley Smith back on the podium again for 2023, but organizers are already looking forward to 2024.

After expanding slightly, Life Time is reducing the Grand Prix field back down to 30 riders for the third season of racing. Both champions, Sofia Gomez Villafane and two-time men’s champ Keegan Swenson are back for a third run at the mixed gravel and endurance cross country mountain bike series.

Three Canadians will be taking on the Grand Prix in 2024. Haley Smith again leads the Canucks. After winning the inaugural Grand Prix, Smith finished third overall in 2023. She’ll have her Maxxis Factory Racing partner (and life partner) Andrew L’Esperance along for the ride again next season, as one of just two Canadian men that made it through the application process.

The second Canadian man is also the only new Canadian to join the series. Sean Fincham, the 25-year-old two time u23 XCO national champion from Squamish, B.C. will make his Grand Prix debut in 2024. Fincham may be new to the Life Time series but will surely find some guidance from his former Norco teammates and GP veterans, Smith and L’Esperance.

That means two Canucks won’t be returning to the Grand Prix. Post-World Tour roadie Rob Britton and gravel specialist Adam Roberge will both be racing elsewhere next season.

Beyond winners and Canadians, Life Time is keeping the field largely U.S. based. There are a few new European and Australian faces for 2024. Matthew Beers is back to continue representing Cape Town, South Africa while Jordan Schleck of Kampala, Uganda will join Fincham on the rookie list.

2024 Life Time Grand Prix: Men

1. 1. Carter Anderson, 20, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Utah 2nd place
   2. Matthew Beers, 29, Cape Town, South Africa, 2x Cape Epic winner
   3. John Borstelmann, 32, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 2023 Garmin Gravel Worlds winner
   4. Zach Calton, 26, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2023 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB 6th place
   5. Sean Fincham, 25, Squamish, British Columbia, 2x Canadian U23 National Champion
   6. Russell Finsterwald, 32, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 4th overall
   7. Howard Grotts, 30, Durango, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 9th overall
   8. Finn Gullickson, 23, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride North Carolina 3rd place
   9. Lance Haidet, 25, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 15th overall
   10. Alex Howes, 35, Nederland, Colo., 2019 USA Pro Road National Champion
   11. Dylan Johnson, 28, Brevard, N.C., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 16th overall
   12. Brendan Johnston, 31, Canberra, Australia, 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda 2nd place
   13. Bradyn Lange, 24, Camas, Wash., 2022 Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek winner
   14. Andrew L’Esperance, 32, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canadian Marathon MTB National Champion
   15. Konny Looser, 34, Hinwil, Switzerland, 2x Swiss Marathon MTB National Champion
   16. Payson McElveen, 30, Durango, Colo., 2018 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB 3rd place
   17. Lachlan Morton, 31, Boulder, Colo., 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 3rd place
   18. Tasman Nankervis, 28, Bendigo, Australia, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 17th overall
   19. Jack Odron, 20, Denver, Colo., 2023 Bighorn Gravel 4th place
   20. Logan Owen, 28, Bremerton, Wash., 2023 Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek 5th place
   21. Cole Paton, 25, Durango, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 3rd overall
   22. Torbjørn Andre Røed, 26, Grand Junction, Colo., 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda winner
   23. Jordan Schleck, 21, Kampala, Uganda, 2023 Gravel Locos Hico 4th place
   24. Nathan Spratt, 28, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2023 Life Time Crusher in the Tushar presented by The Creamery 6th place
   25. Peter Stetina, 36, Santa Rosa, Calif., 8x Grand Tour finisher
   26. Keegan Swenson, 29, Heber City, Utah, 2x Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda overall winner
   27. Kyle Trudeau, 30, Tucson, Ariz., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 13th overall
   28. Petr Vakoc, 31, Prague, Czech Republic, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 2nd place
   29. Alexey Vermeulen, 28, Boulder, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 2nd overall
   30. Alex Wild, 31, San Jose, Calif., 2022 Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL 3rd place

2024 Life Time Grand Prix: Women

1. 1. Crystal Anthony, 42, Bentonville, Ark., 2023 USA Gravel National Championships 3rd place
   2. Ellen Campbell, 26, Durango, Colo., 2022 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB 5th place
   3. Lauren De Crescenzo, 33, Broomfield, Colo., 2021 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear winner
   4. Cecily Decker, 25, Bozeman, Mont., 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Kansas winner
   5. Sofia Gomez Villafane, 29, Heber City, Utah, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda overall winner
   6. Anna Hicks, 23, Placerville, Calif., 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda 3rd place
   7. Erin Huck, 42, Boulder, Colo., 2022 USA Marathon MTB National Championship
   8. Heather Jackson, 39, Bend, Ore., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 14th overall
   9. Sarah Lange, 32, Lyme, N.H., 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 5th place
   10. Kristen Legan, 37, Boulder, Colo., 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear XL winner
   11. Sarah Max, 48, Bend, Ore., 2019 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 3rd place
   12. Deanna Mayles, 30, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2023 Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek 3rd place
   13. Kate McLaughlin, 35, Boulder, Colo., 2023 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB 10th place
   14. Peta Mullens, 35, Bendigo, Australia, 12-time Australian National Champion
   15. Emily Newsom, 40, Fort Worth, Texas, 2022 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 3rd place
   16. Paige Onweller, 34, Grand Rapids, Mich., 2022 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda winner
   17. Hannah Otto, 27, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2022 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB winner
   18. Hayley Preen, 25, Cape Town, South Africa, multi-time South African National Champion
   19. Jenna Rinehart, 39, Mankato, Minn., multi-time Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek winner
   20. Melisa Rollins, 27, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Utah winner
   21. Samara Sheppard, 33, Wollongong, Australia, multi-time New Zealand MTB champion
   22. Danielle Shrosbree, 29, London, England, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 4th place
   23. Alexis Skarda, 34, Grand Junction, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 2nd overall
   24. Haley Smith, 29, Uxbridge, Ont., 2022 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda overall winner
   25. Lauren Stephens, 36, Dallas, Texas, 2023 USA Gravel National Champion
   26. Sarah Sturm, 33, Durango, Colo., 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 3rd place
   27. Michaela Thompson, 21, Durango, Colo., 2023 Bighorn Gravel winner
   28. Caroline Tory, 32, Snowmass, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 12th overall
   29. Leah Van der Linden, 28, Boulder, Colo., 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear 8th place
   30. Anna Yamauchi, 23, Santa Cruz, Calif., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 18th overall

2024 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda Event Lineup:

• April 19: 100K cross-country mountain bike race in the Fuego XL at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental in Monterey, Calif.
• June 1: 200-mile Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear in Emporia, Kan.
• July 13: 69-mile Life Time Crusher in the Tushar presented by The Creamery in Beaver, Utah
• August 10: 104-mile Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB  in Leadville, Colo.
• September 14: 40-mile Life Time Chequamegon MTB presented by Trek in Cable, Wis.
• September 28: 110-mile The Rad Dirt Fest presented by Wahoo in Trinidad, Colo.
• October: 100-mile Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda in Bentonville, Ark.