Life Time Grand Prix qualifying will change significantly for 2027, with most open roster places decided at Sea Otter in April.
Life Time announced a new performance-based system for the 25-rider men’s and women’s fields. The top 10 overall men and women from the 2026 series will receive automatic entries for 2027. The leading under-23 rider in each competition will also secure a place.
That leaves 14 places in each field to be decided through two races at the Sea Otter Classic. Those races are the Life Time Sea Otter Classic Gravel on Thursday and the Life Time Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL on Saturday.
Life Time Grand Prix qualifying gets a head-to-head format
The change gives riders a clearer route into the series than the previous selection model. It also means fewer riders will start the opening weekend with guaranteed Grand Prix places.
Sea Otter has been the opening event in the series. It previously used a mountain bike race and, more recently, a gravel race. In 2027, both Sea Otter races will help determine the final roster spots.
Kimo Seymour, president of events and media at Life Time, said the organizer wanted a more “performance-driven path” into the series. He said Life Time had listened to athletes, agents and partners before making the change.
The Grand Prix aims to identify strong all-around off-road racers. Using both gravel and mountain bike events at Sea Otter reflects that goal. It also lets riders know their status earlier in the season.
Under the previous system, 22 of the 25 places in each field were selected before Sea Otter. The remaining three spots came through a Wild Card competition. That process combined riders’ best results from Sea Otter and Unbound Gravel.
The new system sets the complete field in April at Sea Otter. Previously, riders waited until Unbound, nearly two months later, for the final Wild Card decisions.
Life Time’s older selection criteria used results from Life Time-owned races during the previous 12 months. That included events outside the Grand Prix. The organizer also considered results from other leading off-road races worldwide.
Its criteria also allowed consideration of other events and relevant factors at Life Time’s discretion. The new approach reduces the need to compare performances across different races and conditions.
Sea Otter gravel result will count for qualifiers
Riders who earn Grand Prix places through Sea Otter will carry their Thursday gravel result into the series standings. The Saturday mountain bike race will only affect qualification. It will not count toward Grand Prix points.
Life Time said all eligible Pro category riders who start both Sea Otter races can qualify for the Grand Prix. The organizer will release full scoring, tie-breaker and eligibility details later, before the 2027 season.
Life Time will also introduce a new Pro category vetting process in September. Details of that process have not yet been announced.
Seymour said the aim is to raise the competitive standard while giving athletes a clear path into the series. He said the top athletes from the current season will earn a return, while others can race their way in at Sea Otter.
Seven events return to the 2027 series
The 2027 Life Time Grand Prix will expand from six to seven events. The Life Time Rad Dirt Fest in Trinidad, Colorado, will return in September.
Rad Dirt Fest joins Sea Otter, Unbound Gravel, Leadville, Chequamegon, Little Sugar and Big Sugar. Seymour said athlete feedback showed that The Rad remained popular because of its course and racing style.
Riders must race six of the seven Grand Prix events. Life Time will drop each rider’s worst result and score their best six finishes. Riders who start only six events will have all six results counted.