South Africans Matt Beers and Catherine Colyn have been selected as part of an elite professional field to compete in the 2023 Lifetime Grand Prix Series in the United States. It’s one of the world’s most prestigious international off-road race series and includes some of the most iconic endurance bicycle races in North America. We spoke to them to find out why this is such a big deal.
First of all, here’s how it the Lifetime Grand Prix Series works:
A total of 35 men and 35 women are chosen by the Series organisers to contest the Pro points and prizemoney at seven high-profile events – four of them mountain bike races and three of them gravel races.
The pro field includes mostly US-based racers, but also some international athletes – including the two South Africans – based on their previous racing results and/or their potential to add value to the Series and its objectives. There are also amateur categories in these events, which is where the mass participation value lies.
There are seven events in total:
22 April: Sea Otter Classic | MTB 100km | Monterey, California
3 June: Unbound Gravel | Gravel 200 miles | Emporia, Kansas
8 July: Crusher in the Tushar | Gravel 69 miles | Beaver, Utah
12 August: Leadville 100 | MTB 100 miles | Leadville, Colorado
16 September: Chequamegon | MTB 40 miles | Cable, Wisconsin
21 October: Big Sugar Gravel | Gravel 100 miles | Bentonville, Arkansas
Wildcard Event | MTB | to be announced on 11 January 2023
The Pros earn 35 points for first place, moving in one-point increments down to 1 point for 35th place. The best five results of the seven events will be counted towards the overall series. All Pros must compete in the final event, Big Sugar Gravel on 21 October to be eligible for Series points and prizemoney.
Beers, winner of the 2021 Absa Cape Epic and the 2022 South African Gravel Champion, did compete at some US off-road races this year, where he impressed with top finishes. The Toyota Specialized rider has a combination of power and endurance that makes him suited to most of the events in Lifetime Grand Prix Series.
TREAD: You competed in some major gravel and mountain bike events in the USA in 2022. Which ones and how did you fare?
MATT BEERS: I was seventh that the Leadville 100. It was super-high altitude, and I was surprised I got that result as I felt awful. I also competed in two big gravel races in the US this year, the Belgian Waffle Ride and Rule of Three, where I was second at both. I chose to race events that I knew would get me good exposure and put me on the map. That was my plan to try and get selected for the 2023 Lifetime Grand Prix Series. And it has paid off.
TREAD: Were you approached, or did you have to apply to be in the Pro field?
BEERS: You have to apply. There was a seven-day window period. They ask about your results. I think there were over 200 applicants. I like to think I had a good chance. My racing and results there this year must surely have helped.
TREAD: Do you have to cover your own costs to compete in the Lifetime Grand Prix Series?
BEERS: Yes. Fortunately, the costs are covered by our team, Toyota Specialized. This is worked into the budget. It’s expensive. I try and be as lean as I can without compromising my performance. It’s a fine line. It is a big cost flying over to the US at least three, maybe four times.
TREAD: Which of the Lifetime Grand Prix Series races do you plan to contest?
BEERS: I need to choose the events strategically. Some of them are at altitude, which needs acclimatisation. My programme at this stage will be Sea Otter in April, then Unbound Gravel in June, Crusher in the Tusher in July. I’ll also do Chaquemegon in September and then the compulsory final, Big Sugar in October. I may also do the Wildcard event if it suits me – once it’s been announced.
TREAD: Will the Lifetime Grand Prix Series be your racing priority in 2023?
BEERS: It will be one of my priorities. There is a really good prize purse and it’s a unique series that gets a lot of return on investment if you can contest the podium place. The whole US industry pays attention to this series and there is nothing like it anywhere. I have done most of the races in South Africa now, so it’s nice to have a fresh set of races as goal for this year. The Absa Cape Epic remains my No.1 priority though. I will do the Epic and other big South African races, but balance them out with the American races. There will be a lot of travelling, but I know what I can handle. I must do it while I have the opportunity and live life the best I can.
Unlike Beers, who is already considered one of the best gravel racers in the world, Colyn (pronounced Koo-lane) is a 26-year-old bike racer from Paarl, whose blend of bike racing experience seems to be preparing her well for the specific demands of gravel racing.
Besides winning the first Women’s Under-23 SA Road Race title, Colyn was also the first South African to become a finalist of the Zwift Academy (in 2019). In 2022 she was the Elite women’s bronze medallist at the inaugural South African Gravel Champs, a year that also saw her win the Tour de Cap, road stage race, the Rwanda Epic mountain bike stage race. She was second at the Prince Albert 100 Miler, winning the Queen of the Mountains title at the top of the formidable Swartberg Pass.
TREAD: How were you selected for the Lifetime Grand Prix Series pro field?
CATHERINE COLYN: I’m not sure exactly what their criteria are, but I filled out the relevant application form, which included listing my best results and answering some questions.
TREAD: Has becoming selected to race in the pro field at Lifetime Grand Prix Series been an objective of yours for some time, or was this quite sudden?
COLYN: With gravel growing this past year, I have found myself really enjoying it. I feel it’s the perfect blend between the road racing tactic and the mountain biking skill. It suits me really well. I have been following the US racing scene quite closely as that’s really where gravel racing has its pinnacle currently. I noticed that the Lifetime Grand Prix Series was a huge success in 2022 and I saw on social media that they were taking applications for the 2023 series. I figured I should take a chance and apply. I’m really grateful and excited that I made it to the top 35 women’s pro field.
TREAD: What are your plans with the regard to the Lifetime Grand Prix Series – which events will you contest?
COLYN: At the moment it depends on the financial backing I can secure. I don’t earn a salary from bicycle racing currently. But assuming I get relevant sponsorship, I won’t do the first round at Sea Otter because that sort of clashes with the World Cup Gravel Series race in South Africa, the Swartberg 100. My goal would likely be to do Crusher in the Tushar in July, Leadville 100 in August, Chequamegon in September and the final, Big Sugar Gravel, in October.
TREAD: Have you raced in the USA before?
COLYN: Yes, I did a six-month road racing stint there in 2019 when I raced some UCI tours and high-profile USA events, including Tour of Gila, Cascade Classic and Colorado Classic. It was actually quite heart-warming when it was confirmed I was selected for the pro field for the Lifetime Grand Prix Series as many of my US contacts sent me messages of congratulations and offers to help me when there.
TREAD: What costs are covered for you and what do you need to cover?
COLYN: They cover the entry fees for the races, which works out to be quite steep when you exchange from Dollars to Rands. All the other costs such as getting to the US, transport to the events, accommodation, food, race support, equipment etc, are all mine to cover.
TREAD: Who are you current sponsors?
COLYN: I don’t have any financial sponsors, only product – they are Ciovita clothing, Sox Footwear, Powerbar nutrition supplements and EverAthlete coaching system. I’m currently a member of the Rocacorba Collective eSport racing team, which has some of its own product/gear sponsors.
TREAD: How do you feel about being selected for the pro field for the 2023 Lifetime Grand Prix Series?
COLYN: I’m extremely grateful and very excited! To be the only South African woman selected is pretty special. Along with Matt Beers, it will be great to be able to represent South Africa to the biggest gravel stage in the world.
To stay in touch with their progress during this year, follow these accounts on Instagram:
Lifetime Grand Prix Series: @lifetimegrandprix
Matt Beers: @mattbeers55
Cathy Colyn: @Catherine_Colyn
