Rules & Scoring
2026 SEASON
PRIZE PURSE BREAKDOWN
$350,000 total for the series prize purse plus an additional $240,000 across the six individual events totaling $590,000 — a 55% increase from 2025.
Overall Standings
$350,000 split equally between men and women, awarded to top 10 based on cumulative points after the final race.
| Place | Amount |
|---|---|
| 1st | $50,000 |
| 2nd | $33,000 |
| 3rd | $21,000 |
| 4th | $16,000 |
| 5th | $13,000 |
| 6th | $10,500 |
| 7th | $9,000 |
| 8th | $8,000 |
| 9th | $7,500 |
| 10th | $7,000 |
| Series Total | $350,000 |
Event Prize Purse
| Event | Amount |
|---|---|
| Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel | $30,000 |
| Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano | $60,000 |
| Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik | $60,000 |
| Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival | $30,000 |
| Life Time Little Sugar MTB MTB | $30,000 |
| Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik | $30,000 |
| Event Total | $240,000 |
| Grand Total | $590,000 |
Athlete Compensation and Benefits
Athletes ranked 11th and above who complete the full season (minimum three finishes) receive $2,500 professional finisher compensation.
- Complimentary entry to all six Life Time Grand Prix events
- Complimentary entry to all* Life Time events nationwide
- Complimentary Life Time club membership
- Professional media exposure through Life Time channels
*Excluding the Leadville Stage Race
HOW IT WORKS
SCORING
- The initially selected 22 men and 22 women will appear on the leaderboard after Race 1, Sea Otter Classic
- After Race 2, UNBOUND Gravel, the leaderboard will be updated: dropped athletes are removed and top-performing Wild Card athletes are added
- After Race 4, Chequamegon MTB Festival, each athlete’s lowest scored race will be removed to reflect their drop race — giving the most accurate standings going into the final events
- Points are awarded at each event based on finishing position (see table below)
Points Per Event
| Place | Points |
|---|---|
| 1st | 30 |
| 2nd | 28 |
| 3rd | 26 |
| 4th | 24 |
| 5th | 22 |
| 6th | 20 |
| 7th | 19 |
| 8th | 18 |
| 9th | 17 |
| 10th | 16 |
View Places 11–25
| Place | Points |
|---|---|
| 11th | 15 |
| 12th | 14 |
| 13th | 13 |
| 14th | 12 |
| 15th | 11 |
| 16th | 10 |
| 17th | 9 |
| 18th | 8 |
| 19th | 7 |
| 20th | 6 |
| 21st | 5 |
| 22nd | 4 |
| 23rd | 3 |
| 24th | 2 |
| 25th | 1 |
2026 SEASON
RULES
Event Participation
- Every event provides separate starts for elite men and women
- Entry fees for all six events are covered by Life Time
- Athletes must start 5 of 6 events to be eligible for the overall prize purse and at least 4 to remain in the standings
- The final event, Big Sugar Gravel, is mandatory for all athletes to start and serves as a tiebreaker if necessary
- Athletes must attend a minimum of 3 fan engagement activities throughout the season
- Prize purse eligible athletes must attend the awards ceremony, including both event podiums and the overall Life Time Grand Prix awards ceremony
- To be eligible for the $2,500 finisher compensation, athletes must complete the full Life Time Grand Prix season with a minimum of three official finishes and finish 11th place or higher
Selection Process
- 25 men and 25 women selected for the 2026 season
- 22 men and 22 women announced on 11/11/2025
- 6 Wild Card spots (3M + 3W) announced after UNBOUND Gravel
- Wild Card athletes must compete in Sea Otter Classic and UNBOUND Gravel
- Top 5 overall + two U23 champions from previous season receive automatic entry
- Application window: October 27 – November 5
Doping and Compliance
- Athletes receiving payouts greater than $600 will be required to fill out a W9
- No athlete can be under a current doping ban
- Athletes are subject to random doping controls at Life Time Grand Prix events
Pregnancy Policy
1. Protected Roster Status
If a Life Time Grand Prix athlete becomes pregnant after being selected to the Grand Prix roster and chooses to withdraw from the series due to pregnancy, she may do so without penalty.
The athlete will receive a protected roster position in the Life Time Grand Prix for the following season.
2. Temporary Roster Expansion
To maintain competitive opportunity for other athletes, Life Time may expand wildcard invitations in seasons where pregnancy protection is utilized.
Example: If three wildcard positions are typically awarded, Life Time may award four wildcard positions that season.
3. Notification Timing
Athletes must notify Life Time of pregnancy as soon as reasonably possible after confirmation if they intend to utilize the pregnancy protection policy.
Athletes returning under pregnancy protection must confirm their intent to compete by the standard athlete confirmation deadline for the protected season.
4. Duration of Protection
Pregnancy protection applies for one subsequent Grand Prix season only. If the athlete elects not to compete in the protected season, the protected roster position does not extend beyond that year.
Equipment Restrictions
For rider safety and course compatibility, drop-style handlebars (road or gravel bars with drops) are not permitted at the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB and Life Time Little Sugar MTB. All competitors must use flat or riser-style handlebars at these events. This rule will be enforced during pre-race inspections and on course; violations may result in disqualification.
| Event | Drop Bars Allowed |
|---|---|
| Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel | Yes ✓ |
| Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano | Yes ✓ |
| Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik | No ✕ |
| Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival | Yes ✓ |
| Life Time Little Sugar MTB | No ✕ |
| Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Kenetik | Yes ✓ |