What do professional road racers do towards the end of their career?

Switch to gravel racing… it’s the new black.

Especially if they have a chance win a share of a huge $300,000 USD prize list at the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix series of seven off-road races.

This week organizer Life Time announced a select hand-picked roster of 30 men and 30 women who will compete in the 2024 series, including a number of aging roadies making the switch to gravel:

2021 USA National Road Champion Lauren Stephens, 36

2019 USA National Road Champion Alex Howes, 35

8X Grand Tour finisher and former Trek-Segafredo WorldTour Pro Peter Stetina, 36

2016 Tour of Utah Champion and EF Education First pro Lachlan Morton, 31

2016 Prabantse Pijl winner and Etixx-Quick-Step pro Petr Vakoc, 31

The road riders will have their work cut-out for them as they compete against a long list of young off-road, MTB, CX and pure gravel specialists when the series starts in April at Sea Otter Classic in California.

2024 LIFE TIME GRAND PRIX WOMEN’S ROSTER

  1. Crystal Anthony, 42, 2023 USA Gravel National Championships 3rd
  2. Ellen Campbell, 26, 2022 Stages Cycling Leadville MTB 5th
  3. Lauren De Crescenzo, 33, 2021 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 1st
  4. Cecily Decker, 25, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride KS 1st
  5. Sofia Gomez Villafane, 29, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 1st overall
  6. Anna Hicks, 23, 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel 3rd
  7. Erin Huck, 42, 2022 USA Marathon MTB National Champion
  8. Heather Jackson, 39, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 14th overall
  9. Sarah Lange, 32, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 5th
  10. Kristen Legan, 37, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel XL 1st
  11. Sarah Max, 48, 2019 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 3rd
  12. Deanna Mayles, 30, 2023 Life Time Chequamegon MTB 3rd
  13. Kate McLaughlin, 35, 2023 Stages Cycling Leadville MTB 10th
  14. Peta Mullens, 35, 12-time Australian National Champion
  15. Emily Newsom, 40, 2022 Garmin UNBOUND 3rd place
  16. Paige Onweller, 34, 2022 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel 1st
  17. Hannah Otto, 27, 2022 Stages Cycling Leadville MTB 1st
  18. Hayley Preen, 25, multi-time South African National Champion
  19. Jenna Rinehart, 39, multi-time Life Time Chequamegon MTB 1st
  20. Melisa Rollins, 27, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride UT 1st
  21. Samara Sheppard, 33, multi-time New Zealand MTB National Champion
  22. Danielle Shrosbree, 29, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 4th
  23. Alexis Skarda, 34, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 2nd overall
  24. Haley Smith, 29, 2022 Life Time Grand Prix overall 1st
  25. Lauren Stephens, 36, 2019 USA Pro Road National Champion
  26. Sarah Sturm, 33, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 3rd
  27. Michaela Thompson, 21, 2023 Bighorn Gravel 1st
  28. Caroline Tory, 32, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 12th overall
  29. Leah Van der Linden, 28, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 8th
  30. Anna Yamauchi, 23, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 18th overall

2024 LIFE TIME GRAND PRIX MEN’S ROSTER

  1. Carter Anderson, 20, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride UT 2nd
  2. Matthew Beers, 29, 2x Cape Epic winner
  3. John Borstelmann, 32, 2023 Garmin Gravel Worlds 1st
  4. Zach Calton, 26, 2023 Stages Cycling Leadville MTB 6th
  5. Sean Fincham, 25, 2x Canadian U23 National Champion
  6. Russell Finsterwald, 32, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 4th overall
  7. Howard Grotts, 30, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 9th overall
  8. Finn Gullickson, 23, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride NC 3rd
  9. Lance Haidet, 25, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 15th overall
  10. Alex Howes, 35, 2019 USA Pro Road National Champion
  11. Dylan Johnson, 28, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 16th overall
  12. Brendan Johnston, 31, 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel 2nd
  13. Bradyn Lange, 24, 2022 Life Time Chequamegon MTB 1st
  14. Andrew L’Esperance, 32, Canadian Marathon MTB National Champion
  15. Konny Looser, 34, 2x Swiss Marathon MTB National Champion
  16. Payson McElveen, 30, 2018 Stages Cycling Leadville MTB 3rd
  17. Lachlan Morton, 31, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 3rd
  18. Tasman Nankervis, 28, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 17th overall
  19. Jack Odron, 20, 2023 Bighorn Gravel 4th
  20. Logan Owen, 28, 2023 Life Time Chequamegon MTB 5th
  21. Cole Paton, 25, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 3rd overall
  22. Torbjørn Andre Røed, 26, 2023 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel 1st
  23. Jordan Schleck, 21, 2023 Gravel Locos Hico 4th
  24. Nathan Spratt, 28, 2023 Life Time Crusher in the Tushar 6th
  25. Peter Stetina, 36, 8x UCI Grand Tour finisher
  26. Keegan Swenson, 29, 2x Life Time Grand Prix overall winner
  27. Kyle Trudeau, 30, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 13th overall
  28. Petr Vakoc, 31, 2023 Garmin UNBOUND Gravel 2nd
  29. Alexey Vermeulen, 28, 2023 Life Time Grand Prix 2nd overall
  30. Alex Wild, 31, 2022 Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL 3rd

Photo Credit: various – Facebook

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