The 2025 Life Time Huge Sugar Gravel introduced by Kenetik wrapped up the Life Time Grand Prix season with chaos, rain, and all-out racing throughout a shortened 50-mile course.
When the mud cleared, Cameron Jones sprinted his technique to the general males’s title, Sofía Gómez Villafañe locked in a clear sweep of Bentonville, and Matthew Beers lastly grabbed his first Grand Prix win. In the event you missed the race, you’ll be able to watch the total replay of each the boys’s and girls’s race beneath – free.
Forecasted storms compelled organizers to chop the 100-mile route in half, however the shorter route made for various ways and a few thrilling racing. The lads’s race went full throttle from the beginning, and the ladies’s discipline adopted with equal ferocity, each determined in tense, tactical finales.
Males’s Elite: Beers Goes Solo for the Win
South African powerhouse Matthew Beers (Specialised Manufacturing unit Racing) launched one of many day’s boldest strikes, breaking away with Matthew Wilson and Riley Amos early on. When Wilson suffered a mechanical and Amos light within the closing miles, Beers pressed on alone, hammering to a decisive solo victory.
“I’m actually good at such a effort coming from the mountain bike facet,” Beers mentioned. “It was full gasoline, head down, commit 100%. I’ve been shut so many occasions, so lastly successful one feels wonderful.”
Behind him, Griffin Easter nipped Amos in a drag race for second, whereas Julien Gagne rolled via in fourth. The general contenders, Swenson, Jones, Pellaud, and Røed, rode collectively all day, eyeing one another’s each transfer. When the mud (and rain) settled, Jones outkicked all of them in a fierce dash for fifth, a end that handed him the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix title by the slimmest of margins.
Life Time Collection Over Cam Jones’ Wild Card Season Ends in Glory
Cameron Jones began the 12 months as a Wild Card rider, an outsider combating for a roster spot. 5 months later, he’s the general champion.
“In the present day was thrilling,” Jones mentioned. “We simply marked one another all day. It was an extended dash, however I managed to carry on. I’ve confirmed my level that I belong right here.”
Jones’ storybook season included wins at UNBOUND Gravel and Little Sugar MTB, and a hard-fought fifth-place end at Huge Sugar that sealed the deal. Keegan Swenson completed fourth within the sequence general, describing the finale as “tactical and tough… I gave it the whole lot I had.”
Girls’s Elite: Villafañe Closes Out a Excellent Bentonville
For Sofía Gómez Villafañe, Bentonville was the proper ending to a dominant 12 months. After successful Little Sugar MTB final weekend and securing her third straight general Grand Prix title, she capped it off with one other victory at Huge Sugar.
Racing alongside U.S. Gravel Champion Lauren Stephens, Villafañe timed her assault completely on the slick course, dropping Stephens within the closing miles to take the win solo. Stephens held on for second, whereas Stella Hobbs sprinted in for third forward of Alexis Skarda and Courtney Sherwell.
“I thrive in chaos,” Villafañe mentioned with amusing. “The climate and uncertainty made it enjoyable. I recon’d the course yesterday with Matt Beers, which turned out to be a sensible transfer. Successful each Sugar races and the general, I couldn’t ask for a greater ending.”
Cecily Decker edged Melisa Rollins for second general, capping her season on a excessive be aware after a tricky restoration from damage.
A Win for the U23s, and a Look to 2026
The U23 competitors wrapped up with Alexandra Charles and Jonas Woodruff taking wins at Huge Sugar. On the identical time, Ruth Holcomb and Griffin Hoppin claimed the inaugural U23 Life Time Grand Prix titles, incomes automated spots for 2026.
Subsequent 12 months’s sequence will robotically invite the highest 5 women and men from 2025, together with the U23 winners, guaranteeing that Jones, Villafañe, and the following era of gravel expertise are already on the roster.
