Life Time has announced an expanded investment in its Life Time Grand Prix U23 Program for the 2026 racing season. The multi-faceted wellness and endurance sports brand has increased the total number of young cyclists selected for the young rider development initiative and introduced comprehensive race entry fee coverage for the first time.
Operating as a prominent leisure and fitness property, Life Time manages a portfolio of more than 175 athletic country clubs alongside an extensive roster of premier endurance sports events across North America, including the Leadville Race Series and UNBOUND Gravel. The U23 initiative was launched to support the next generation of off-road cyclists as grassroots participation in gravel and mountain biking continues to experience strong growth.
The strategic enhancements to the U23 initiative address specific economic and structural barriers facing emerging athletes in the sport. Unlike established professionals, most under-23 competitors are not full-time racers, meaning they frequently balance rigorous training schedules with college coursework, employment, and the financial demands of travel and equipment procurement.
By extending complimentary race entries and expanding the development roster, the program seeks to improve access, lower overhead costs, and build a sustainable long-term talent pipeline.
Michelle Duffy, Director of the Life Time Grand Prix, said “Life Time is committed to growing the future of off-road cycling, and these athletes are exactly that. The U23 years are a critical bridge between high school racing and the next phase of an athlete’s career, and for many riders, a program like this can be the incentive and support they need to stay on the bike, keep developing, and see a real path forward.”
She added “We originally planned to select 10 young women and men, but the depth of talent this year made it clear that we had an opportunity to expand. By expanding the roster and introducing race entry support, we are doubling down on our commitment to building a stronger development pipeline and creating more opportunities for the next generation of elite off-road cyclists.”
Following its inaugural year, the 2026 iteration will welcome 32 total athletes, comprising 20 men and 12 women. The larger roster size reflects an influx of applications from across the United States, Canada, and New Zealand, providing a separate leaderboard where developing riders can compete directly against their peers while gaining elite-level experience.
The program requires participants to compete in at least four of the six flagship events that form the broader Life Time Grand Prix schedule. Scoring is based on a distinct U23 system, with an athlete’s best four results contributing to the season standings, allowing for two drop races. A minimum of four race starts is required to remain eligible for the overall title, and the Big Sugar Gravel event serves as the primary tiebreaker.
The initiative is open to off-road cyclists aged 18–22. Demonstrating the efficacy of the pipeline, the overall men’s and women’s champions from the U23 circuit earn automatic qualification into the elite Life Time Grand Prix roster for the following 2027 season.
Ruth Holcomb, the women’s overall U23 champion from the 2025 season, said “By Life Time adding the U23 category, I think a lot of us got a lot more coverage than we would’ve gotten otherwise and winning the series not only got me into the Life Time Grand Prix but also helped me meet a lot of people in the industry and build connections that I was able to use to put my privateer program together this year.”
Griffin Hoppin, the 2025 men’s U23 champion, added “Winning the U23 category last year was a big moment of recognition for me, but bigger than that, it opened up the opportunity for me to continue to pursue the thing I really love to do, so for that, I’m super grateful to Life Time.”
The confirmed 2026 U23 athlete roster consists of:
Women
Lauren Aggeler – Colorado, USA
Samantha Campbell – Colorado, USA
Alex Charles – Utah, USA
Ellory Clason – Michigan, USA
Katelyn Cook – Idaho, USA
Brooke Darby – Colorado, USA
Kylee Hanel – Oregon, USA
Scarlett Hardie – Colorado, USA
Samantha Johnson – Tennessee, USA
Courtney Merrill – Idaho, USA
Lacie Munns – Utah, USA
Emily Stapleton – Pennsylvania, USA
Men
Isaac Allred – Minnesota, USA
Ryker Brand – Utah, USA
Aero Fisher – California, USA
Jason Freihofner – California, USA
Calvin Horner – Kansas, USA
Jake Johansen – Arizona, USA
Holden Krizek – Colorado, USA
Finn McKenzie – New Zealand
Luke Mosteller – Georgia, USA
Ryder Ritchie – California, USA
Ollie Rutberg – Colorado, USA
Jacob Schneller – Kansas, USA
Braeden Sellinger – Arizona, USA
Jack Spang – Canada
Oskar Stack-Michasiw – Canada
Kash Steele – California, USA
Jacob Stutz – California, USA
Elliot Thornblade – Montana, USA
Noah Warren – Alabama, USA
Jonas Woodruff – California, USA
The calendar for the final four rounds of the 2026 series is scheduled as follows:
- August 15, 2026 – Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik (Leadville, CO)
- September 19, 2026 – Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival (Hayward, WI)
- October 11, 2026 – Life Time Little Sugar MTB (Bentonville, AR)
- October 17, 2026 – Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik (Bentonville, AR)
