Twenty-five year-old Mechanical Engineering student, Hayley Preen, has collected a few national and continental cycling titles in the past few years. This week she begins what is sure to be her greatest challenge yet, the seven-race Life Time Grand Prix Series in the United States. We had a chat to her to find out more.
Words: Sean Badenhorst | Intro image: Warwick Purdy
She took us by surprise when she won the Elite Women’s Road Race national championship in 2021. Now, when Hayley Preen is on a start line of any bicycle race, we expect success – or at least a hard race. She’s a fierce competitor that let’s her legs do the talking. And boy can they talk!
Bicycle racing disciplines all require pedalling power, but each has nuances to deliver victory. Preen is one of an elite few that can adapt her focus between mountain biking, gravel, road and time trial. After a successful summer of road racing, she’s now set her sights on the Life Time Grand Prix, the USA’s most prestigious off-road racing series.
The series comprises seven iconic races, three of which are mountain bike marathons and four that are gravel races. The first race is this weekend, the Sea Otter Classic Fuego XL, a 100km mountain bike marathon. We asked Preen a few questions ahead of the start of the series.
You’re the only South African in a field of 30 top international women racers set to compete in some of the highest profile off-road races in the world. How do you feel?
It’s a true privilege to be part of the Life Time Grand Prix Series. The decision to apply for one of the 30 spots was made quite spontaneously, as I was mapping out my plans for an exciting 2024 season. The impressive performances of Matt Beers in previous editions have been nothing short of inspiring. I’m excited by the prospect of competing in some of the world’s biggest gravel and mountain biking events.
You have won multiple South African and African titles now, please remind us of them?
My first big victory was the 2021 SA Elite Road National Champs, it also being my first year Elite. Following this, I have picked up national titles in Gravel (2022), Criterium (2023) and Time-trial (2024). I’ve been the runner-up in the National Marathon Champs category twice, and I’m determined to reach the top of that podium as well. My most recent success is two gold medals at the African Games – in the Road Race and the Criterium.
You also compete in trail running and equestrian, right?
I’ve always been very competitive in whatever sport I’ve done. I’ve competed in horse riding for as long as I can remember and have won national titles there and ridden and won an international championship in China as a young rider. On the running side – I’ve also run for years. It started off with cross-country in school for my whole school career. In my final school year, 2016, I was selected to join the Salomon Running Academy in Germany, which opened up many trail-running doors for me and allowed me to participate in some of the most prestigious trail races across Europe including racing in the Skyrunning World Championships twice. Cycling is now my focus and the other sports only fit in if it doesn’t interfere with training.
How have you prepared for the Lifetime Grand Prix events which mix MTB and Gravel?
My preparation for the Lifetime Grand Prix has been a mix of training for me. I spent most of December getting used to my gravel bike as it was new for me. I then also spent a lot of time on the MTB. Then we had our Road National Championship at the end of January, and this was a big focus for me, so I then put all my effort into the road bike for that. Since then, I’ve only been on the MTB as prep for Absa Cape Epic (Preen finished fourth at the 2024 Cape Epic with France’s Lena Gerault), which then also worked out very well as prep for Sea Otter Classic (the first of the Lifetime GP Series event on the 19th of April). After Sea Otter, the focus will be on the gravel bike. Often my training is split up into blocks on the different bikes and, overall, I spend enough time on each.
What do you feel are your strengths?
I think one of my strengths is that my body responds well to fatigue. I think that will be important in the longer races and especially for the Unbound Gravel event (over 200 miles). I also know how to dig deep in tough situations and not give up.
Any weaknesses?
If I ask people that I ride mountain bikes with, they’ll say “not using your dropper post”.
Will you be doing multiple trips to the USA to race or staying there for the full seven-month series period?
I’ve planned three trips to the USA, with the belief that spending time training on familiar roads at home between races will be beneficial. I’ve also got some other big goals between some of the LTGP races taking place outside of the US.
Have you attained sponsorship?
I’m incredibly thankful for the support from my sponsors. Squirt Cycling Products has been pivotal in supporting my venture to the USA, both financially and with their products. Freewheel Cycology has been a cornerstone in providing bike support, and Maurten has ensured that my nutrition is unparalleled during both training and competition.
Competing on another continent in such a high-profile series is huge undertaking – are you excited or afraid?
While I’m filled with excitement for the upcoming series, there’s also a sense of venturing into the unknown. I’ve yet to race in the USA or tackle off-road challenges internationally. My experience has predominantly been on the road, navigating the challenging terrains of Belgium’s cobbles and gravel. Nevertheless, I feel confident in my current form and am eager to discover what I can achieve in the LTGP.
Follow the Lifetime Grand Prix Series on Instagram here. and follow Hayley’s progress on her Instagram account here.
