Trekky Joins the Battle for Life Time Grand Prix Glory
The Life Time Grand Prix is back, and it’s kicking off with a bang at the Sea Otter Classic Gravel presented by Continental. The stakes? Big money, big prestige, and a shot at gravel racing’s most stacked series. The opener in Monterey, California is set to be an all-out dust-fest, with a three-lap, 90-mile course winding through the Ford Ord National Monument—featuring 3,200m of leg-snapping elevation and a fast, tactical finale at Laguna Seca Raceway.
Among the heavy hitters? Aussie powerhouse Brendan “Trekky” Johnston. The multi-time Aus gravel and marathon champ is back for another crack at the Grand Prix series after proving he can mix it up with North America’s best last season. With his race smarts, diesel engine, and relentless tenacity, Trekky knows what it takes to go deep in these brutal races, and he’s ready to throw down from the gun.
The Men’s Race – Who’s Taking the First Swing?
All eyes are on Keegan Swenson, the reigning Life Time Grand Prix champ, who’s back from Cape Epic and hungry to defend his crown. He knows how to play these races to perfection, and with the new short-lap format, expect him to strike late on the final climb to break the race apart.
South African Matthew Beers is another major threat—Cape Epic sharpened his legs, and he’s coming in with a ton of confidence and watts. But the wildcard? Brendan "Trekky" Johnston. The Aussie has been here before, he knows how these races unfold, and if he’s in the front group heading into the final lap, expect him to unleash a well-timed move that could reshape the race.
“This course is gonna be fast and tactical—the final climb will make or break the race,” Swenson said. “I expect it’ll play out similarly to Fuego XL, but with even more aggression from the start.”
The Women’s Race – Rollins vs. Villafañe vs. The Unknowns
On the women’s side, Melisa Rollins is back, but she’s had a rough off-season, breaking both wrists in Australia last month. Despite that, she’s determined to start her Grand Prix campaign strong, but she knows she’ll have to battle with Sofía Gómez Villafañe, who’s in top form and loves this course.
“I haven’t dealt with this kind of setback before, but I’ve made some setup changes and worked through it,” Rollins said. “I feel ready, but I’ll have to race smart—especially on that final climb.”
Meanwhile, Annabel Fisher is coming in off a pro ski season and just landed a podium at the UCI Gravel World Series. She’s got power, but can she handle the brutal punchiness of Sea Otter’s course?
New Format, Same Brutality
This year, Life Time mixed things up—instead of the classic Fuego XL opener, riders will tackle a three-lap format, racking up 3,500 feet of elevation per lap before an explosive finish at Laguna Seca. With gravel, fire roads, and high-speed descents, it’s going to be a true test of fitness, race smarts, and positioning.
Kimo Seymour, President of Life Time Events, hinted that this change was designed to shake things up. “We wanted to mix things up and make it a dynamic race. The course is short, so it’s going to be intense from the start.”
It’s Game Time
The Life Time Grand Prix is here, and Sea Otter is ready to set the tone for a massive season. Will Trekky break through for a big result? Can Swenson go back-to-back? Will Rollins push through the pain to challenge Villafañe?
One thing’s for sure—this is gonna be a battle from the gun. Strap in, send it, and let’s get this gravel season started. 🚀