Life Time, which owns and produces 30 events across the US, and Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) have announced Mazda as the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Life Time Grand Prix series.
Mazda is the first automotive brand to sponsor the company’s off-road cycle events. The agreement coincides with the launch of the first-ever Mazda CX-50, an all-new crossover model aimed at ‘enhancing the driver’s connection to nature.’
The vehicle will debut at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental on April 7-10, where the first race of the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda series takes place.
“We are excited to introduce Mazda to our off-road cycling community as their efforts to open doors for consumers to experience the outdoors is an ethos we share,” said Kimo Seymour, President of Media and Events at Life Time.
“The Life Time Grand Prix appeals to athletes because it comprises a mix of terrain from the gnarly gravel of the Flint Hills of Kansas to the peaks of the Colorado Rockies – making it the perfect outlet for Mazda to demonstrate its on and off-road driving performance capabilities. As two companies that provide outlets for people to live these passions, our brand purposes are well aligned.”
In addition to its presenting sponsorship of the Life Time Grand Prix, Mazda will also serve as the presenting sponsor of Life Time Big Sugar Gravel an official-level sponsor of the Life Time Sea Otter Classic, Garmin UNBOUND Gravel, Life Time Crusher in the Tushar, Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB, and Life Time Chequamegon MTB.
The full Grand Prix schedule is as follows:
- April 9: 80K cross country mountain bike race in the Fuego XC at the Life Time Sea Otter Classic presented by Continental in Monterey, California
- June 4: 200-mile Garmin UNBOUND Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear in Emporia, Kansas
- July 9: 70-mile Life Time Crusher in the Tushar presented by The Creamery in Beaver, Utah
- August 13: 100-mile Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB in Leadville, Colorado
- September 17: 40-mile Life Time Chequamegon MTB presented by Trek in Cable, Wisconsin
- October 22: 100-mile Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda in Bentonville, Arkansas
“We believe that time spent outdoors fuels our curiosities and inspires our lifeblood, allowing us all to be ‘More Human in Nature’ and Life Time’s off-road cycle events are an outlet for that passion,” said Brad Audet, Chief Marketing Officer, at Mazda North American Operations.
“As more consumers engage in outdoor activities such as mountain and gravel biking, we want to be there with them, sharing the benefits of time spent immersed in nature without compromising on the premium design and outstanding driving performance Mazda is known for.”
www.lifetimegrandprix.com
www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/future/cx-50
