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The Life Time Grand Prix series confirmed its wildcard entries for the 2026 season, with Danni Shrosbree and Martins Blums earning their spots after impressive performances. This decision followed the conclusion of the first two races of the series.
Among the seven new recruits, three are men and four are women, with the final spots determined after evaluating performances at the Sea Otter Classic Gravel and Unbound Gravel events. Due to the withdrawal of a pregnant Sarah Sturm, a notable shift occurred in the women's field.
Danni Shrosbree, an experienced British gravel rider, topped the list with a 29th-place finish at Sea Otter and a commendable ninth at Unbound 200. Accompanying her is Latvia's Olympian Martins Blums, who transitioned from mountain biking, finishing 21st at Unbound and 13th at Sea Otter.
Three riders from the United States joined this competitive mix: Skyler Taylor (Pinarello-Q36.5), who secured the top men's wildcard spot with a 20th place at Unbound, Jenna Rinehart (Rene Herse), who finished 27th at Unbound and 18th at Sea Otter, and Hannah Shell, who earned her wildcard with a 23rd at Unbound.
Hannah Shell reflected on her journey back into the series after missing the previous edition, expressing her pride in achieving her goal. New Zealand contributed two additional riders, Charlotte Clarke (Ventum) and Matthew Wilson (Scott Sports USA), further increasing the presence of international talent in the series.
Wilson had impressive finishes at both events, taking 12th at Sea Otter and 28th at Unbound, while Clarke secured her wildcard position with a determined 23rd at Unbound, despite several challenges during the race.
The Life Time Grand Prix consists of six events, culminating in a season-ending purse of $350,000, which is split equally between the top finishers in women's and men's divisions. With these recent additions, the stage is set for an exciting season ahead.
Source : cyclingnews.com.