In an email to Life Time Grand Prix athletes, the race series organizers announced that a no-drafting rule will not be implemented this year.

In gravel racing, the men’s and women’s fields, elite and amateur alike, all tackle the race course around the same time. This has led to several issues and controversies, particularly for the women’s pro field. For one, the starting frenzy and mingling fields mean that the riders have to navigate heavy traffic before they can race their own race. Secondly, because inter-field drafting is legal, some women riders have capitalized on the presence of male riders to gain an advantage.

An example of this tactic occurred during the 2023 Unbound Gravel race, where Carolin Schiff capitalized on an acceleration made by Dutchman Ivar Slik to break free from the pack.  Likewise, many women in the chase behind her also used the drafts of men in an effort to gain ground. While this strategy is within the rules and has proven successful, it has also drawn criticism. Some argue that the current racing format impedes women from competing independently, free of interference or assistance from other categories.