Australian gravel champion Courtney Sherwell (Santa Cruz-SRAM) has been chasing the overall US gravel racing revel in for plenty of years, with a slot within the Existence Time Grand Prix sequence till now being the lacking piece of the puzzle however that is the 12 months it has all fallen into position.
The 36-year-old started to department out from the Australian gravel scene ultimate 12 months focussing at the Belgian Waffle Trip Tripel Crown. She briefly added weight to her declare on a 2025 Existence Time Grand Prix spot when she confirmed simply how succesful she used to be via claiming 2d total within the three-race sequence at the back of Sofía Gómez Villafañe (Specialised).
That made it transparent that Sherwell had what it took to be aggressive probably the greatest, however after having been dissatisfied in earlier years, Sherwell – who additionally went on to comb up the Australian marathon mountain motorcycle nationwide identify in 2024 – definitely wasn’t complacent when the invites got here out and she or he discovered her title used to be a number of the 22 girls within the US-based Grand Prix.
“It is a large 12 months. It makes me frightened simply fascinated with logistics and that type of factor however I am excited to be heading again to america and kicking off the racing season over there with the Belgium Waffle Trip [BWR] once more in Arizona and excited to be part of the Existence Time Grand Prix.”
She, however, is hoping for a smoother beginning this year when she lines up in Arizona to start her international season at the 166km BWR.
“I’m going to be the use of this primary race as slightly of redemption.” said Sherwell in a post on social media earlier this month. “Final 12 months my race didn’t move to devise. l had a crash early on at the first filth sector so I spent the remainder of the day looking to chase.
“I just really didn’t enjoy the day out there, I was on my own most of the day, so I’m hoping for a bit of a change of luck this time round and that I’ll be competitive and on that podium.”
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Sherwell will then be taking at the Cactus Cup, a MTB degree race out of doors Phoenix from March 7-9, and after that she’s going to start the Existence Time Grand Prix sequence on the opener in Monterey, California, April 10 at Sea Otter Vintage Gravel.
“I want to be in the top 10 at least in the Grand Prix so I’ll be aiming for that and going from there – that’ll be my base – but most importantly I just want to enjoy the experience.”
That, then again, does not for a 2d imply she’ll be doing the rest not up to going all out for effects: “I’m there to race, like, I want to race hard. I want to be competitive, so, you know, let’s go top five then…” a giggling Sherwell concluded.
