Keegan Swenson (Santa Cruz Bicycles-SRAM) is on the verge of securing a 3rd general title within the Life Time Grand Prix introduced by Mazda off-road sequence, which he can seal with a victory Saturday at The Rad Dirt Fest in Trinidad, Colorado. But there are 113 miles throughout 10,613 toes of climbing that the US rider has not seen earlier than, and a strong males’s area making an attempt to increase the battle for a share in a $300,000 prize purse to late October at Big Sugar Gravel.
“It’s my first time in Trinidad. It’s sort of an analogous vibe to Steamboat [SBT GRVL], however extra turns and fewer lengthy straightaways, with some punchier climbs close to the tip. It’s a pleasant change from the Midwest gravel we have carried out the final bit,” the three-time SBT GRVL winner mentioned after a pre-ride on the course Thursday.
“I feel the race will blow up a good bit. It is likely to be a giant group for the primary half, then I feel it would slowly change into a smaller bunch. It undoubtedly will not be a dash end like the previous couple of races. There’s a few quick, steep climbs in the previous couple of kilometres, so it could possibly be teams of 1 and two on the end.”
A packed late-summer schedule saved Swenson away from the southern Colorado race the previous two years. In 2022 he was a late addition to Team USA for the UCI Road World Championships and headed to Australia, the place he was the second-best positioned US males’s rider within the street race behind Neilson Powless. In 2023 he traveled to Italy to compete on the UCI Gravel World Championships, the place he was the highest US rider in sixth general.
Despite lacking The Rad Dirt Fest, he nonetheless gained the Life Time Grand Prix general each years. Not a lot ought to change this 12 months, once more.
“It’s been an analogous season to final 12 months by way of the calendar. It has been enjoyable to have a pair new occasions, Valley of Tears was an incredible race. Leadville was good. It was enjoyable to return there and defend that title, attempt to go quick,” he mentioned with a small giggle. “From Steamboat to Gravel Nats and Chequamegon and now we’re right here. Just have a pleasant, constant journey right here and fewer stress at Big Sugar.”
While Swenson dominated nearly all of races he entered this season, together with Leadville for a fourth time, however he didn’t repeat because the US nationwide champion, Brennan Wertz (Mosiac Cycles) taking the stars-and-stripes jersey away. Wertz is headed to the Gravel World Championships subsequent week, and Swenson mentioned he’d attempt to watch the printed of the race, having declined a wildcard invitation to make the trek to Belgium between Grand Prix occasions.
“I have never seemed initially checklist. I do know there is a handful of WorldTour guys racing and a bunch of the gravel guys. If it is obtainable within the US I’ll attempt to watch it, see the way it performs out. It appears to be like very related [the course] to a one-day Belgian Classic.”
The former US gravel nationwide champion at present leads a 29-rider area within the Life Time Grand Prix standings by sweeping the three several types of mountain bike occasions on the calendar – Fuego XL 100K MTB at Sea Otter Classic, Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Chequamegon MTB Festival.
Swenson hopes to coast throughout the white rocks of northern Arkansas on the sixth and last occasion for a $30,000 first-place verify, the winner’s share in a $300,000 prize purse, break up evenly amongst women and men. But earlier than then, McElveen is among the high contenders who needs a win at The Rad too.
“Technically, Keegan would not have it locked up, which is why he has to go to Trinidad. There’s 20 guys who might nonetheless end within the high three [of the Grand Prix]. It’s nonetheless very thrilling,” assessed Payson McElveen (Allied Cycle Works-Red Bull), who’s third general within the standings.
“The factors are getting attention-grabbing. My ambitions for this race modified after Chequamegon, as a result of sadly I picked up COVID proper after the race, making an attempt to get well being. I’m in an incredible spot to complete second general, however have to play some protection.”
The Rad Dirt Fest will separate elite fields by 5 minutes initially for the primary time. A stacked males’s area with Swenson, McElveen, defending champion Alexey Vermeulen (Factor-ENVE), and Cole Paton (Giant) hit the hills within the distant and rugged Spanish Peaks at 9:00 MDT.
The ladies’s area is predicted to incorporate former Rad winner Lauren De Crescenzo (Factor /The Feed/Maxxis/Castelli/PERC) and the highest two riders vying for the Grand Prix lead, Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized) and Paige Onweller (Trek Driftless).
“The Rad may be very a lot a pure gravel occasion. It’s additionally a variety of pedaling, there’s not a variety of sitting in even on the descending. So I feel pure energy and with the ability to climb effectively goes to be necessary. Additionally, the course is at altitude; it’s kind of sneaky. So athletes have to deal with altitude fairly effectively and tempo their efforts accordingly,” Onweller mentioned in regards to the course.
“Additionally, that is the primary 12 months that we’ve got had a separate ladies’s begin on the Rad, final 12 months was blended. And so I do really feel like we could have bigger teams of ladies up till essential factors, with a mixture for the race to be extra dynamic.”
There isn’t any reside streaming, however race protection will likely be supplied on Life Time Grand Prix social channels.