Keegan Swenson seals Life Time Grand Prix overall with Rad Dirt Fest victory
Stetina, Easter round out race podium in Colorado
Keegan Swenson wrapped up the overall victory in the 2024 Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda with a win in the Rad Dirt Fest on Saturday.
Swenson soloed into to capture top spot in the 110-mile race ahead of Peter Stetina, with Griffin Easter claiming third.
The win gave Swenson a large enough lead in the overall series that he cannot be overtaken in the final race, Big Sugar, which takes place on October 19 in Bentonville, Arkansas.
Making his first appearance in the race, Swenson broke clear with Stetina and Griffin Easter in the final hour. He then went solo on a rolling section of terrain where the race exited from Trinidad Lake State Park, crossing the line well clear of his rivals with a 1:23 advantage.
Meanwhile behind Stetina had also begun a lone bid for glory, finishing in second with an impressive 3:23 margin on Easter.
"Today was my first time competing here and the course was rad," Swenson said later in a race press release.
"My goal was to have a nice, solid ride. I wanted to put the pressure on and make it hard, but at the same time try and be smart because I knew if I had a podium here, and depending on where other guys finished, I could lock up the overall."
"On that last big push back into town, Pete [Stetina] and I worked really well together. He then made two late attacks but I was able to counter them and gain a few seconds on him, and that allowed me to roll in solo to the finish. I had a good day out and a good time racing the guys out there."
Such is Swenson's advantage overall following his latest triumph that he only needs to start Big Sugar Gravel to be guaranteed his third successive Life Time Grand Prix overall victory.
Brief Results
Rank | Rider | Time |
---|---|---|
1 | Keegan Swenson | 5:00:01 |
2 | Peter Stetina | 5:01:24 |
3 | Griffin Easter | 5:04:47 |
4 | Matthew Beers | 5:05:14 |
5 | Brendan Johnston | 5:05:39 |
6 | Finn Gullickson | 5:05:53 |
7 | Kellen Caldwell | 5:06:16 |
8 | Julien Gagne | 5:11:51 |
9 | Henry Nelson | 5:11:56 |
10 | Russell Finsterwald | 5:11:58 |
11 | Alex Wild | 5:11:59 |
12 | Kyle Trudeau | 5:12:00 |
13 | Adam Roberge | 5:12:26 |
14 | Alex Howes | 5:13:42 |
15 | John Borstelmann | 5:16:35 |
16 | Dylan Johnson | 5:16:36 |
17 | Cole Paton | 5:16:41 |
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Laura Weislo has been with Cyclingnews since 2006 after making a switch from a career in science. As Managing Editor, she coordinates coverage for North American events and global news. As former elite-level road racer who dabbled in cyclo-cross and track, Laura has a passion for all three disciplines. When not working she likes to go camping and explore lesser traveled roads, paths and gravel tracks. Laura specialises in covering doping, anti-doping, UCI governance and performing data analysis.
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