Matt Beers and Sofía Gómez Villafañe Triumph in Weather-shortened 2025 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel Race

The 2025 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel race in Bentonville, Arkansas, concluded the Life Time Grand Prix series under challenging conditions on October 18. Severe weather forecasts, including thunderstorms and potential tornadoes, prompted organizers to shorten the original 100-mile course to 50 miles just 90 minutes before the elite race start to ensure participant safety.

In the men's event, Matt Beers of Specialized-Off Road secured a solo victory. Beers initiated an early breakaway with Matthew Wilson of Santa Cruz and Riley Amos of Trek Factory Racing. After Wilson suffered a mechanical issue, Beers continued solo to win the race. Cameron Jones of Scott-Shimano clinched the overall Life Time Grand Prix title by finishing fifth in the race, surpassing defending champion Keegan Swenson.

On the women's side, Sofía Gómez Villafañe achieved a sprint victory, securing her third consecutive Grand Prix title. Gómez Villafañe and Lauren Stephens broke away from the main group in the closing kilometers. Gómez Villafañe distanced Stephens to take a solo win, while Stephens held off the chasing pack for second.

The Life Time Grand Prix series featured a six-race off-road series combining premier gravel and mountain bike events across the U.S., with a total prize purse of $380,000. The top 10 overall men and women shared $200,000 based on points accrued in their best five of six races, with the Big Sugar Gravel serving as the mandatory tie-breaker race.

Matt Beers, a South African mountain biker known for his strength in off-road racing, marked his first win in the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix series with this victory. Cameron Jones, initially a Wild Card entrant, rose to the top of the Life Time Grand Prix standings, with consistent performances including a victory at Life Time Little Sugar MTB and a previous win at Life Time UNBOUND Gravel. Sofía Gómez Villafañe, an Argentine-American cyclist, dominated the women's field in the Life Time Grand Prix series, securing her third consecutive title in 2025.

The Life Time Grand Prix series has significantly contributed to the popularity and professionalization of gravel racing in the U.S., offering substantial prize money and media exposure. Some U.S. riders are opting to participate in domestic events like the Life Time Grand Prix over international competitions such as the UCI Gravel World Championships, citing financial, logistical, and career sustainability concerns.

The 2025 Life Time Big Sugar Gravel race highlighted the resilience of athletes and organizers in adapting to severe weather conditions, marking a thrilling end to the seven-month gravel racing series.