The road to the 2026 Life Time Grand Prix just got a lot more interesting.
With less than two months until the season opener, Life Time has officially unveiled the Wild Card roster, and if last year proved anything, it’s that these aren’t just filler spots. They’re career launchpads.
In 2025, Cameron Jones entered the series as a Wild Card and rode that opportunity all the way to the overall men’s title. What was once a developmental side door into the Grand Prix is now arguably the most coveted pathway in elite off-road racing.
For 2026, six riders (three women and three men) will again earn their way into the series and chase a record $350,000 equal-pay prize purse.
The Wild Card Gauntlet: Sea Otter + UNBOUND
Just like last season, Wild Card hopefuls must prove themselves across two of the most demanding early-season races:
- Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel — April 16, 2026
- Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano — May 30, 2026
Athletes must contest both events, and the top combined performers across the two races will earn entry into the full 2026 Life Time Grand Prix series.
It’s a brutal filter. Sea Otter demands explosive early-season form and a big engine. All riders competing in the Life Time Grand Prix series are looking to make a good impression in front of sponsors at the Sea Otter Classic.
UNBOUND is 200 miles of Flint Hills chaos. It rewards patience, punishes bad decisions, and has zero sympathy for poor equipment choices.
Both races are trial by fire — and only the strongest will move on. But skill, power, and aerobic endurance aren’t the only factors in the mix; riders will need a great deal of luck on their side. We love to see it!
As Kimo Seymour, Senior VP of Events at Life Time, put it, “the Wild Card selection has quickly become one of the most anticipated components of the series — and the depth of this year’s roster reflects just how competitive off-road cycling has become.”
2026 Women’s Wild Card Contenders
The women’s field is stacked with experience, youth, and international firepower. Among the notable names:
- Lejla Njemcevic — reigning marathon world champion with serious gravel credentials
- Haley Smith — a consistent North American off-road force
- Emily Newsom — bringing road pedigree into gravel
- Caitlyn Kellogg — multi-discipline contender
- Laurie Arseneault — CX and MTB crossover talent
And that’s just scratching the surface. The roster includes 20+ international and North American riders, ranging from 22-year-old rising stars to seasoned veterans in their 40s.
2026 Men’s Wild Card Contenders
The men’s list reads like a who’s-who of off-road horsepower and dark-horse potential.
Standout names include:
- Russell Finsterwald — former MTB national champ with elite gravel legs
- Dylan Johnson — data-driven gravel specialist
- Lance Haidet — CX and gravel crossover threat
- Martins Blums — World Cup-level MTB experience
- Alban Lakata — multi-time marathon world champion
- Cory Wallace — endurance specialist with global wins
Add in emerging names like Henry Nelson, Yusuf Johnson, and Gustave Orain, and you’ve got a roster that spans World Cup pedigree, gravel specialization, and serious endurance engines.
If 2025 showed us anything, it’s that Wild Cards aren’t long shots; they’re legitimate contenders.
The 2026 Life Time Grand Prix Calendar
Once the Wild Card spots are decided, riders will tackle the full six-race gauntlet:
- Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel — April 16
- Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 200 presented by Shimano — May 30
- Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik — August 15
- Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival — September 19
- Life Time Little Sugar MTB — October 11
- Life Time Big Sugar Gravel — October 17
From high-altitude suffering in Leadville to the punchy chaos of Big Sugar, the series rewards versatility as much as raw power.
Why the Wild Card Matters More Than Ever
The Life Time Grand Prix isn’t just another points series anymore; it’s the proving ground for modern off-road racing in North America. Gravel specialists, marathon MTB diesel engines, and crossover wildcards all collide here, and the margins are thin.
The Wild Card system keeps the door cracked open just enough for someone hungry to kick it off the hinges. With $350,000 in equal-pay prize money up for grabs and the deepest field yet lining up, 2026 won’t be handed to anyone.
If last season proved anything, it’s that the next overall champion might already be on this Wild Card list — and they’re coming in with nothing to lose.
Check out the full wild card list here, and the ways to watch the action.
