Life Time Raises the Bar: 2026 Grand Prix Expands Prize Purse, Tightens Selection, and Strengthens Pro Platform

Words James Ion - Photography Life Time Grand Prix

The 2026 Life Time Grand Prix is poised to double down on its mission: unite off-road’s finest athletes under one banner—part mountain grit, part gravel glory—and deliver a professional stage worthy of their devotion. Now entering its fifth season, the series unveils a sharper, performance-driven selection process, expanded athlete support, and the most substantial investment in prize money to date.

This year’s prize purse reaches a record $590,000, marking a 55% jump from 2025. Of that, $350,000 is reserved for the Life Time Grand Prix overall, split evenly between women’s and men’s classifications and paying through tenth place. UNBOUND Gravel 200 and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB each elevate to $60,000 individual race purses, while other stops maintain $30,000. And for the first time, athletes finishing 11th or beyond, with at least three completed events, will earn $2,500 in professional finisher compensation—an unmistakable nod to the endurance and depth of the pro field.

Applications for the 2026 Grand Prix open October 27 and close November 5 with the official roster revealed November 11.

Six Stops, One Unrelenting Season

Each rider’s best five results will count toward the overall standings across these iconic six events:

- April 16 – Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel

- May 30 – Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano

- August 15 – Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik

- September 19 – Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival

- October 11 – Life Time Little Sugar MTB

- October 17 – Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik

After a successful debut of live coverage in 2025, Life Time expands its real-time broadcasts to four major races—the Sea Otter Classic Gravel, UNBOUND Gravel 200, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, and Big Sugar Gravel—bringing the off-road spectacle to screens around the world and allowing fans to follow the tension, tactics, and triumphs in the moment.

Selection Refined

Each gender field will feature 25 athletes, chosen through a retooled, performance-based evaluation. Automatic entries include last season’s top five finishers and the U23 champion, with sixteen additional riders selected via results across Life Time events and select international races, such as Cape Epic, BC Bike Race, and the UCI Gravel World Championships. Three coveted Wild Card positions—determined after UNBOUND Gravel—round out each field.

The Wild Card program, returning after its successful debut, offers one more shot for ambitious riders willing to line up at both the Sea Otter Classic Gravel and UNBOUND Gravel 200. The top three men and women from that cohort will earn their way into the series. Additional slots may open if selected athletes withdraw before midseason.

Athlete Support Strengthened

Beyond financial opportunity, Life Time extends its backing through tangible benefits. All Grand Prix entries now include full event registration coverage, expanded in 2026 to include every U23 rider admitted post-UNBOUND Gravel. Selected athletes also receive:

- Complimentary entry to all Life Time events nationwide

- Full access to Life Time’s 185+ athletic country clubs for training and recovery

- Ongoing visibility through Life Time’s broadcast and digital platforms

“Four seasons in, the Grand Prix has become a proving ground and a podium for ambition,” said **Kimo Seymour**, Life Time President of Media & Events. “In 2026 we’re celebrating progress—both for the athletes and for the sport. With a deeper prize pool, structured performance selection, and a commitment to U23 development, we’re not just growing races—we’re building careers.”

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With sharper stakes, stronger incentives, and a lineup that reads like a map of American endurance, the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix reaffirms its place at the epicenter of elite off-road competition—a place where gravel dreams and trail legends are made, one relentless mile at a time.