Monterey, California – Keegan Swenson and Haley Batten emerged victorious in the 90-mile Sea Otter Classic gravel race on Thursday, securing key positions in the ongoing Life Time Grand Prix series. Swenson’s win propels him into the lead of the series, a title he has dominated for three consecutive years. Batten, although not competing for the Grand Prix overall, claimed a commanding first-place finish, while second-place finisher Sofía Gómez Villafañe ascended to the series lead in the women’s division.
The Sea Otter Classic, recognized as North America’s largest cycling event, marked the season opener for the Life Time Grand Prix. This year’s race saw a shift from traditional mountain biking to gravel, with athletes tackling a 90-mile course that included over 8,000 feet of climbing across three laps, each covering 30 miles of rugged terrain.
The men’s race kicked off with Matt Beers leading the charge, navigating the initial descent into Fort Ord National Monument. By the time the field entered the first major climb up Lookout Ridge, Beers had established himself at the front, joined by Australian National Champion Brendan Johnston and defending Sea Otter champion Swenson. The lead group, which also included Petr Vakoc, Andrew L’Esperance, and Alex Wild, held firm throughout the early laps.
Newcomer Simon Pellaud attacked midway through the race, gaining more than two minutes on the pack. However, Swenson, Johnston, and Alexey Vermeulen managed to reel him in, and by the final 20 miles, the group was whittled down to four riders: Beers, Swenson, Vermeulen, and Johnston. As the race neared its conclusion, Johnston dropped off the pace, leaving Swenson to use the final steep ascent to his advantage. With a powerful push up Lookout Ridge, Swenson broke away, crossing the finish line solo for the win. Beers finished second, while Vermeulen secured third.
“It was fast, tactical racing all day and Lookout Ridge was the only place where there was much selection,” Swenson said post-race. “I knew that was going to be the place to go on the last lap, and I gave it everything I had.” The effort left him visibly exhausted, even seen vomiting after crossing the line, but the strategy paid off.
Despite a challenging 2024 season, Swenson’s victory provides a boost of confidence as he heads into the next race in the series, Unbound Gravel, later this spring. “It’s nice to have a little buffer heading into UNBOUND too because that’s a crazy, hectic race where anything can happen,” he added.
In the women’s race, the action was equally intense, with several breakaway attempts throughout the first lap. French rider Axelle Dubau-Prevot made an early move but was eventually caught by a group containing gravel specialists like Villafañe, Paige Onweller, and Lauren De Crescenzo. Cecily Decker also made a bid for the lead on Lookout Ridge but was eventually reeled in.
It was Batten, a silver medalist at the Paris Olympics in mountain biking, who made her move in the second lap. After a strong attack during a singletrack section, Batten gained a decisive lead. Although she felt the weight of the effort as the race wore on, the Specialized rider managed to hold her ground. Villafañe and Decker were the next closest competitors but were unable to mount a challenge on the final lap. Batten crossed the finish line more than five minutes ahead of second-place finisher Villafañe.
“This was my first gravel race, so I had no real plan and just wanted to see how the athletes were riding and working together,” Batten said. “I made a surprise attack, and when no one followed, I had no choice but to go solo for the rest of the race. During the last lap, I was regretting my move as I was deep in the pain cave, but it turned out well.”
The top women’s finishers at Sea Otter Classic were as follows:
- Haley Batten
- Sofía Gómez Villafañe
- Cecily Decker
- Hayley Preen
- Alexis Skarda
The Life Time Grand Prix continues on May 31 at Unbound Gravel, where both Swenson and Batten will look to build on their early successes.
Life Time Grand Prix Standings (Round 1):
Men’s Top 5:
- Keegan Swenson
- Matt Beers
- Alexey Vermeulen
- Petr Vakoc
- Brendan Johnston
Women’s Top 5:
- Sofía Gómez Villafañe
- Haley Batten
- Cecily Decker
- Hayley Preen
- Alexis Skarda
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