Life Time just released the details for its 2026 Grand Prix race series, and $590,000 in total prize money is on the line. That’s a 55% increase over the 2025 season, and it represents what Life Time is calling a “record investment in athletes.”
Since launching in 2022, the Life Time Grand Prix has been working to establish itself as the premier professional platform for off-road cycling in North America, combining both gravel and mountain bike racing into a single series. With the 2026 season, it looks like Life Time is doubling down on that mission — and putting serious money behind it.
$590,000 in prize money, plus ‘two of the most lucrative off-road races in North America’
The overall Grand Prix prize purse has jumped to $350,000, split evenly between men’s and women’s fields at $175,000 each. The winner in each category will take home $50,000, with payouts extending all the way through 10th place — where athletes will still pocket $7,000. Second place earns $33,000, third gets $21,000, and the amounts taper down from there through the top ten.
New for 2026, Life Time is introducing a professional finisher compensation of $2,500 for athletes who place below 10th place in the overall standings, as long as they complete at least three events. That might not sound like a massive payday, but for athletes grinding through a full season while trying to make ends meet, that baseline compensation could be the difference between committing to the series and having to skip races for financial reasons.
Individual race purses are getting bumped up, too. Both UNBOUND Gravel 200 and the Leadville Trail 100 MTB will feature $60,000 prize purses, “making them two of the most lucrative off-road races in North America,” according to the press release. Every other Grand Prix event maintains a $30,000 prize purse. Note that those individual race prizes go to the top five finishers in each event, regardless of whether they’re competing in the full Grand Prix series, which opens up opportunities for athletes who might not be part of the 25-person roster.
How the Life Time Grand Prix athletes will be selected
Each men’s and women’s field will feature 25 athletes, “selected through a refined, performance-based process,” according to Life Time. Spots are allocated like this:
- The top five overall finishers from the 2025 Grand Prix get automatic entry
- The top U23 athlete from 2025 gets a guaranteed spot
- A minimum of 16 athletes will be selected based on performance
- Three Wild Card athletes will be chosen after UNBOUND Gravel
The Wild Card system is returning “after its successful launch last year,” according to the press release, offering a path for riders who don’t make the initial cut. To be selected as a Wild Card, “athletes must have applied for the 2026 series, indicated they want to be included in the Wild Card pool, and have competed at both the Sea Otter Classic Gravel and UNBOUND Gravel 200.” Wild Card riders are scored on their performances at these two events, with the top three women and men earning roster spots — basically earning their way in through results rather than résumé.
Applications will be evaluated based on performances over the past 12 months at Life Time-owned events and select national and international races, including Sea Otter Classic, UNBOUND Gravel, Leadville Trail 100 MTB, Chequamegon MTB Festival, The Rad Dirt Fest, Crusher in the Tushar, Lutsen 99er, and global events like Cape Epic, BC Bike Race, and the UCI Gravel World Championships.
The application window opens Monday, October 27, and closes Wednesday, November 5. Athlete selections will be announced on November 11.
What else is new for 2026?
Beyond the prize money, Life Time is expanding athlete support in some practical ways. All Grand Prix athletes get their series entries covered. While that’s been the case in previous years, in 2026, that’s being extended to all U23 athletes selected for the program after UNBOUND Gravel.
Athletes selected for the series will also receive complimentary entry into Life Time events nationwide, including Silver Rush 50, Sea Otter Classic, Tahoe Trail, Crusher in the Tushar, The Rad Dirt Fest, and Lutsen 99er. They’ll also get free access to Life Time’s 185+ athletic country club locations across North America for training and recovery, plus professional media exposure through Life Time’s broadcast, YouTube, and digital channels.
Six races, best five count
The 2026 calendar features six events, with each athlete’s best five finishes counting toward the overall standings:
- Thursday, April 16: Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel
- Saturday, May 30: Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano
- Saturday, August 15: Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
- Saturday, September 19: Life Time Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival
- Sunday, October 11: Life Time Little Sugar MTB
- Saturday, October 17: Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik
Athletes must be 18 years or older by December 31, 2025, to compete.
“We’re very proud of how far the Life Time Grand Prix has advanced in just four seasons.”
Kimo Seymour, Life Time President Media & Events
A sustainable professional racing circuit
“We’re very proud of how far the Life Time Grand Prix has advanced in just four seasons,” said Kimo Seymour, Life Time President Media & Events. “With the expanded prize purse, a more structured and performance-based selection process, and our investment in athlete development through the U23 program, we’ve created an unparalleled platform that both acknowledges and rewards the most dedicated and accomplished riders in the sport.”
That’s the kind of quote you’d expect from a press release, but the numbers back it up. A $590,000 prize purse, baseline compensation for finishers, expanded athlete benefits, and free access to training facilities — these are the building blocks of a sustainable professional racing circuit. Whether Life Time can maintain this level of investment long-term remains to be seen, but for now, professional off-road cyclists in North America have a clear incentive to chase those 25 roster spots.
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