Rollins and Vermeulen Crowned Champions at Chequamegon MTB festival
HAYWARD, WI – Melisa Rollins and Alexey Vermeulen secured elite victories at the Chequamegon MTB Festival on Saturday, marking the fourth round of the Life Time Grand Prix series. Rollins finished with a time of 2:51:48, while Vermeulen crossed the finish line at 2:24:39, both demonstrating dominant performances in challenging conditions.
The Life Time Grand prix is a premier off-road cycling series, attracting top athletes and offering significant prize money-a total of $250,000-across six races. This year’s competition is particularly significant as it serves as a qualifying pathway for professional cyclists aiming for the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Chequamegon MTB Festival, known for its grueling 40-mile course through the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest, tested riders’ endurance and technical skills.
Rollins bested a competitive field, finishing eight seconds ahead of second-place Rose Grant (+0:08) and followed closely by Brendan Johnston (+0:08) in third.Torbjørn Andre Røed (+0:09) and Cobe Freeburn (+0:09) rounded out the top five.
On the men’s side, Vermeulen also claimed a narrow victory, finishing just ahead of Grant (+0:08). Johnston secured third place with the same time differential (+0:08), while Røed (+0:09), Freeburn (+0:09), Lange Breads (+0:09), Simon Pellaud (+0:09), Cameron Jones (+0:09), Payson McElveen (+0:10), and Andrew L’esperance (+0:10) completed the top ten.
The Life Time Grand Prix continues with the next event, the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, scheduled for august 12th in Leadville, Colorado. The series will culminate in October, determining the overall champions and solidifying their positions in the competitive world of off-road cycling.
