The key members of the 2025 Lifetime Grand Prix were announced today, with a number of new international challengers selected to oust three-time men's series champion Keegan Swenson and two-time women's champion Sofia Gomez Villafane.

The men's headliners are three-time winner of The Traka 360, Mattia De Marchi (Italy), former World Tour road pro Laurens Naessen (Belgium), Tsgab Gurumayi (Ethiopia) and Simon Perrault (Switzerland).

Next year, six female riders will make their Grand Prix debuts at the Sea Otter Classic gravel race in Monterey, California, on April 11. Among the international riders are reigning Australian gravel champion Courtney Sherwell, British gravel champion Annabelle Fisher, and Oregon Trail gravel stage winner Axelle Dubault-Prevot (France). among others.

Selected from hundreds of applicants representing 23 countries, the 2025 first-timers include 22 women and 22 men who will compete in a season-ending six-race off-road race series, with $280,000 in prize money split among the top 10 in each division. Three more women and three more men will be added as wild card athletes based on the results of the Unbound Gravel 200 to be held on May 31, 2025.

Last year, 30 elite women and 30 elite men were invited, with the top 10 in each division splitting the $300,000 prize money. All of the top 10 in last year's women's final rankings returned for another year of off-road racing. All three men's final podium finishers, Swenson, Matthew Beers, and Payson McElveen, will return in 2025.

Riders not returning this time include veterans Peter Stetina, Lachlan Morton, Petr Vakoc, Lance Heide, and Alex Howes. Also absent this time are Carter Anderson, Sean Fincham, Andrew Lesperance, Connie Rouser, Tasman Nankervis, Jack Odlon, Logan Owen, Jordan Schleck, Nathan Spratt, and Kyle Trudeau.

Several of these fixtures from past Grand Prix seasons, including Stetina, did not submit applications. Stetina, looking for new gravel-specific adventures in his “waning years” as a rider, said he would still compete in the three events on the series calendar.

“The Grand Prix is great. It has literally brought North American cycling back to the forefront. It's great,” the 37-year-old told Cyclingnews, noting that the series is skewed toward mountain bike riders and he preferred to focus on gravel.

“For me, the series means nothing. Being part of the first generation of Grand Prix riders was a really fun process. Once the burden is lifted by only following the series, it opens the door to other notable gravel races that I haven't entered yet or will enter in the future. There are a lot of cool events out there.”

On the women's side, absent from the invited riders are US Gravel National Champion Lauren Stevens, Whitney Allison, Ellen Campbell, Anna Hicks, Heather Jackson, Kristen Regan, Sarah Max, Kate McLaughlin, Peta Mullens, Kate McLaughlin, Emily Newsom, Dani Schlossbrey, Caroline Troy, Leah van der Linden, and Anna Yamauchi have joined this season.

“Unfortunately, the UCI Gravel World Championships have been rescheduled to coincide with the final round of the LTGP. I hope to participate in many of the Lifetime events,” Stéphane told Cycling News, and he did not submit his application due to conflicts with his planned calendar.

Stephens has been the top U.S. women's finisher at all three UCI Gravel World Championships, including sixth in 2023. Next year's Gravel World Championships will be held October 18-19 in Nice, France. The Lifetime Grand Prix will conclude the same weekend with the Big Sugar Gravel in Bentonville, Arkansas.

During the selection process, applicants were asked if they would like to participate in the wildcard pool if they were not selected. These applicants will be considered for their performance in the Sea Otter Classic Gravel and Unbound Gravel 200 and will be selected for the final three slots in each division at the end of May. In addition, if any of the 44 originally selected applicants drop out of the series between now and the Unbound Gravel, their slots will be filled by wildcard applicants.

“The fourth season of the Lifetime Grand Prix will build on three years of momentum and bring a whole new level of competition. Kimo Seymour, senior vice president of Lifetime Events, said, “We are excited to announce the 2025 athlete roster, which will feature a mix of new and returning talent for both men and women.

. We continue to raise the global profile of the series and build interest among gravel and mountain bike racing fans in the U.S. and around the world.” As a result, we are excited to share that this year's group of racers is our most international to date.