Brendan Johnston, Alexis Skarda win titles at Utah's Salty Lizard; Unbound winner to race new Pulaski MTN-X; MAAP launches U23 initiative - Gravel Bits

Brendan Johnston (Giant Bikes) and Alexis Skarda (Scott Bicycles-Q36.5) earned victories at Salty Lizard Gravel Race, using the opener in the Utah Gravel Series on April 4 as a tune-up for Sea Otter Gravel next week.

Johnston finished in a time of 4:17:30, taking a 10-second margin ahead of Josiah Wildman (Respira). In the sprint for third Ryker Brand (Maybird-Formula 369) edged Ethan Shirey (Bear National Team), another 14 seconds back. The trio of riders behind Johnston comprised the men's 19-29 podium.

Skarda covered the course in 4:34:17, good for the women's title and 10th overall. Second in the women's field, and first among the 19-29 women's division was Alex Charles (MOG Squad), finishing 35:13 back. Another 26 minutes down was Lily Halvorson in third.

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The Salty Lizard was held in Wendover, located in Tooele County on the border of Nevada and 120 miles west of Salt Lake City. The route remained in Utah with more than 4,000 feet of elevation gain through the Silver Island Mountains.

Both Johnston and Skarda are part of the invitation-only field of elite riders in the Life Time Grand Prix, with the first of six races taking place in northern California next Thursday. Charles is set to take the start at Sea Otter Gravel among the women's U23 field, while Brand and Shirey will compete in the men'sU23 field.

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Pulaski MTN-X gravel race debuts September 26 with Unbound 200 champion Cameron Jones

Coming to the Blue Ridge Mountains on September 26 is a new gravel race, Pulaski MTN-X, located in southwest Virginia. Timed sections will be used to determine winners in three ride distances, with the 100-mile race offering $20,000, split evenly between pro women and pro men.

Unbound Gravel 200 champion Cameron Jones (Scott Sports USA - RCC), who is from New Zealand, has confirmed participation, the race start located 35 miles from his US home base in Blacksburg.

“When I'm not traveling to races around the world, I live in the nearby town of Blacksburg. I can safely say it’s some of the best gravel riding in existence,” said Jones in a press release.

“This will be a truly spectacular event, and I can’t wait to join my fellow gravel racers on this challenging MTN-X course.”

Courses have been designed by Scottie Weiss, a Pulaski resident who won a masters time trial world title in 2016 following a long career in road racing. The three routes at 30, 50 and 100 miles will be confirmed in the coming weeks.

The event founder is Tim Miller, who was part of the organising groups for Tour DuPont and 2015 UCI Road World Championships. He is now the director of Pulaski County Sports & Entertainment. Event management will be managed by Micah Rice, who also directs SBT GRVL and Valley of Tears Gravel.

Registration opens April 20, with a free registration offered for individuals who submit an online event update form between April 9-19.

MAAP launches 'Future of Off-Road Racing' programme

A 'Future of Off-Road Racing Fund' has been established by MAAP, an Australian cycling apparel brand, as part of a multi-year sponsorship with the Life Time Grand Prix. This programme will support two U23 athletes each year - one male and one female - in the US-based series of gravel and mountain bike races.

The U23 athletes selected, a process yet to be disclosed by MAAP, will receive financial assistance and technical race apparel for the races in the Grand Prix, which include Unbound Grael 200 and Leadville Trail 100 MTB. The funding is backed by proceeds from sales of an exclusive MAAP Official Supporters Jersey will augment the fund.

"Today, some young riders dream of chasing Unbound or the Life Time Grand Prix rather than XCO or road racing, so it’s incredibly encouraging to see programs created to support that next generation of athletes," Payson McElveen, who begins his fifth season in the Grand Prix this year and is among the top gravel racers supported by MAAP for his privateer programme.

“When I was an U23, I had a lot of interest in races like Leadville and other endurance off-road races, but it was often tough to rally support to pursue them. I was lucky to find a few sponsors at the time who also saw the incredible potential of these sorts of events right as the off-road boom was beginning, but it often still felt like an uphill battle."

The first Future of Off-Road Racing panel, comprised of athletes and industry experts, will gather on Friday, April 17, at 12:30 p.m. at the Sea Otter Awards Podium, part of the MAAP sponsorship activation at Life Time Grand Prix and a day after the first race of the series at the same California venue. The panel session can be attended by all Sea Otter patrons, with highlights integrated into the Grand Prix's global media channels.

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