September Results Roundup
September kept the racing hot and the ORI command center deep in results-wrangling. Between championship jerseys, Northwoods chaos, and some truly unreasonable amounts of singletrack, there’s plenty to unpack. All seven races below are now live and indexed on ORI.
The River
Mads Würtz Schmidt and Gee Schreurs sealed the deal on the Gravel Earth Series overall titles. How much those titles resonate beyond the series itself is still an open question, but word is there are big plans brewing for next year. That deserves its own conversation.
Park City Point to Point
Roughly 75 miles of high-altitude singletrack makes P2P both a mountain biker’s dream and a serious undertaking. All that glorious trail comes with a bill, and your legs will be settling it for days. Anyone fond of calling Leadville a “road race” should put this one on next year’s calendar and experience the full singletrack treatment.
USAC Gravel Nationals
New national champions, a scenic Minnesota setting, and remarkably little opportunity to follow the action from afar. Without live coverage or much of a social presence, the race felt awfully quiet for an event handing out Stars and Stripes jerseys. There’s more to unpack here, but first, congratulations to everyone who earned one.
Mammoth TUFF
A beautiful course in a stunning corner of the country makes this an event worth rooting for, and one we’d love to see grow. This year’s smaller turnout leaves questions about its next chapter, including how much its UCI qualifier status actually moves the needle on participation. More on that another time, but the scenery alone makes a compelling case for the trip.
Chequamegon MTB
Matt Wilson is the wildcard no more, taking his first Life Time Grand Prix round win. Sofia Gomez Villafañe crashed, chased back, and won anyway, offering another reminder that she’s operating in a class of her own. Behind the sharp end, more than 2,000 riders hooted and hollered through the Northwoods for 40 miles of bliss. With varying definitions of bliss.
Salida 76
A smaller Colorado race with encouraging participation, a fun vibe, and a course through some seriously stunning country. This one has the ingredients to earn a bigger following, even with a crowded September weekend competing for everyone’s legs and entry fees.
The Rad Dirt Fest
Consistently described as one of the country’s most underrated courses, The Rad pairs excellent riding with Trinidad, a southern Colorado town with a wonderfully weird streak. The past two editions have been smaller during its absence from the Life Time Grand Prix. With its return to the series announced for 2027, a rebound looks well within reach.
Find your finish, check in on a rival, or follow the riders at the sharp end. The podium gets the photo, but the rest of the field deserves a home, too.