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Predicting the SBT GRVL winners.

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    GravelRank
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As the anticipation builds for tomorrow's SBT GRVL, a grueling 141 mile (228km) race with a staggering 10,400ft (3200m) of climbing, we at GravelRank are turning to data to foresee which cyclists will conquer this beast of a race. Reigning champion Keegan Swenson is back, but with a field this competitive, the podium is anyone’s game. Here’s our predicted wide podium:

The Predicted Wide Podium

  1. Keegan Swenson: Last year's champ returns, and our numbers think he's the man to beat.
  2. Howard Grotts: Always a fierce competitor; Grotts is looking for his moment to shine.
  3. Kyle Trudeau: Could this be the breakthrough race for Trudeau? Our algorithm seems to think so.
  4. Russell Finsterwald: A seasoned endurance MTB racer with some great races and unfortunately mechanicals over the last couple years, Finsterwald’s chances are far from slim.
  5. Lance Haidet: Strong at every race, could SBT be one of the best results yet for Haidet?

The Close Followers

The numbers are close, very close. With Keegan a strong favorite for first, the remaining 6 spots are almost a toss-up. Here are three more that will be biting at the heels of the leaders and could even take the win:

A special note on Morton: he's been ramping up his performances and fitness all season. Could he defy our algorithm and climb even higher?

The Surprises

In a race as dynamic as SBT GRVL, unexpected performances are the norm rather than the exception. Kyle Trudeau and Lance Haidet, though known in the circuit, have the chance to establish themselves as gravel giants. Their projected strong finishes, if realized, would mark significant result in their season, cementing their positions as top contenders in future races.

SBT GRVL

  • 141 miles / 228km of punishing terrain, with 10,400ft / 3200m of ascent, especially at elevation, may give the edge to the climbers among the bunch.
  • Fresh off the Leadville 100, these athletes are no strangers to altitude, which might prove to be the secret weapon for those acclimatized to the thin air of Steamboat.

Behind the numbers

As good as we can get this numbers, this race isn’t just a contest of strength and speed—it’s one of strategy. Who will break away? Who will conserve for the final grueling miles? One thing is clear: this race is wide open.

As the SBT GRVL gears up to challenge riders with its mix of distance, climbing, and altitude, our algorithm will be put to the test alongside them. Will Swenson defend his title? Can Morton’s season-long ramp-up catapult him to new heights? In a race as dynamic and brutal as SBT GRVL, anything is possible.

Get the next prediction ahead of the pack

Until tomorrow, may the best predictions win, and may the riders give it their all at SBT GRVL!

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