One of the USA’s oldest MTB races returns Saturday with the world’s top off-road riders continuing the battle for the Life Time Grand Prix crown.
The Life Time Grand Prix continues on Saturday, September 13, with the Life Time Chequamegon Mountain Bike Festival.
This beloved Wisconsin event is celebrating its 42nd anniversary this year, making it one of the oldest and longest-running mountain bike races in the country. Clocking in at 38.3 miles, the elite route is the shortest of the series and takes athletes on a rollercoaster ride from Hayward, across the American Birkebeiner Ski Trail, with back-to-back climbs and a multitude of terrain serving up a war of attrition.
With Chequamegon’s shorter course and stacked field, this year’s race is expected to deliver nonstop action and a thrilling sprint to the finish. A new twist for 2025 adds to the excitement: the final two miles of the pro race will now follow the Birkie Trail instead of the Sleigh Trail section used by mass start participants. This change not only offers a more dynamic route into Cable but also provides additional space for passing – setting the stage for a dramatic dash to the Great Hall finish line.
View the Pro/Elite course map by clicking HERE
Still all to play for
Everything remains to play for in both the men’s and women’s competitions. Cecily Decker leads Sofía Gómez Villafañe by just two points on the women’s overall standings, but Villafañe comes into the race as defending champion and will be looking to close that gap with a repeat of last year’s incredible win. Melisa Rollins is in third, only 12 points further back and will also be full of confidence after being the highest-placed Life Time Grand Prix finisher at the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik last month (where she finished in second behind Kate Courtney). She is also no stranger to winning at Chequamegon – she took the title in 2021.
Newly crowned UCI MTB World Champion Keegan Swenson is the man to beat once again in the men’s field. He claimed his first Chequamegon victory last season and continued to impress in Leadville last month, where he wrapped up his fifth straight triumph over 15 minutes ahead of his nearest rival, John Gaston. That said, Simon Pellaud trails Keegan by just seven points on the leaderboard as he prepares to make his race debut, and Alex Wild will be looking to make amends after being narrowly denied victory last year.
