Cycling News

A trio of Canadians highlight 2024 Life Time Grand Prix roster

Haley Smith and Andrew L'Esperance stand on the podium of 2023 Canadian XC Marathon national championships in Whitehorse, The Yukon.

The second edition of the Life Time Grand Prix series only recently wrapped up, with 2022 champion Haley Smith back on the podium again for 2023, but organizers are already looking forward to 2024.

After expanding slightly, Life Time is reducing the Grand Prix field back down to 30 riders for the third season of racing. Both champions, Sofia Gomez Villafane and two-time men’s champ Keegan Swenson are back for a third run at the mixed gravel and endurance cross country mountain bike series.

Yukon XCM national championships 2023. Photo: John Howland

Three Canadians will be taking on the Grand Prix in 2024. Haley Smith again leads the Canucks. After winning the inaugural Grand Prix, Smith finished third overall in 2023. She’ll have her Maxxis Factory Racing partner (and life partner) Andrew L’Esperance along for the ride again next season, as one of just two Canadian men that made it through the application process.

Sean Fincham for Berria Bikes
Sean Fincham adds gravel to his race calendar for 2024

The second Canadian man is also the only new Canadian to join the series. Sean Fincham, the 25-year-old two time u23 XCO national champion from Squamish, B.C. will make his Grand Prix debut in 2024. Fincham may be new to the Life Time series but will surely find some guidance from his former Norco teammates and GP veterans, Smith and L’Esperance.

That means two Canucks won’t be returning to the Grand Prix. Post-World Tour roadie Rob Britton and gravel specialist Adam Roberge will both be racing elsewhere next season.

Beyond winners and Canadians, Life Time is keeping the field largely U.S. based. There are a few new European and Australian faces for 2024. Matthew Beers is back to continue representing Cape Town, South Africa while Jordan Schleck of Kampala, Uganda will join Fincham on the rookie list.

Andrew L’Esperance leads early in Belgian Waffle Ride Canada.

2024 Life Time Grand Prix: Men

    1. Carter Anderson, 20, Eagle Mountain, Utah, 2023 Belgian Waffle Ride Utah 2nd place
    2. Matthew Beers, 29, Cape Town, South Africa, 2x Cape Epic winner
    3. John Borstelmann, 32, San Luis Obispo, Calif., 2023 Garmin Gravel Worlds winner
    4. Zach Calton, 26, Salt Lake City, Utah, 2023 Stages Cycling Leadville Trail 100 MTB 6th place
    5. Sean Fincham, 25, Squamish, British Columbia, 2x Canadian U23 National Champion
    6. Russell Finsterwald, 32, Colorado Springs, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 4th overall
    7. Howard Grotts, 30, Durango, Colo., 2023 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda 9th…

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