Sea Otter Classic 2026

The First Test of the Season

The Sea Otter Classic marks the first true battle of the season, bringing together the biggest names in gravel for the opening round of the Lifetime Grand Prix. It is where early form meets real pressure and where the tone for the year is set.

For Cam Jones, the start line looks very different this time around. One year ago, he was passed over for the Grand Prix and forced into a wildcard battle that began right here at Sea Otter. That path led to one of the most dramatic wins at Unbound and ultimately the overall series title in 2025. Now, he returns not as an outsider, but as the rider everyone is watching.

Chasing the Opportunity

Matt Wilson enters the season in a position that feels familiar. In his debut year with the SCOTT Gravel team, he arrives at Sea Otter focused on earning his place. After missing out on a Grand Prix selection, his path runs through Sea Otter and Unbound. The goal is simple: prove he belongs and secure a wildcard spot to challenge for the overall.

Alexis Skarda is new to SCOTT, but no stranger to the demands of the series. After finishing fourth overall in 2025, she lines up with her sights set higher. Sea Otter is just the beginning, with a quick turnaround to Spain for Traka, where another opportunity awaits.

Hannah Otto returns with the consistency that has defined her Grand Prix career. A top-ten finisher every year, she approaches the opening round with focus, looking to secure early points and build momentum for another strong campaign.

Brennan Wertz may favor the open, rolling terrain of races like Unbound and Mid South, but there was no question he would be on the line at Sea Otter. Steep climbs and technical descents did not deter him. He checked the first race off the list and now turns his attention toward Kansas, where the miles will matter most.

Morning Rituals

Sea Otter mornings come with a different kind of calm. The sun rises early, but the routine stays the same. Coffee. A perfectly timed pancake flip. Quiet moments before the noise.

Mechanics move with precision, dialing in race bikes for the long day ahead. Every detail is checked, then checked again. It is the final chance to settle the mind before everything speeds up.

There is a stillness at the start line. Focused. A little nervous. A moment to reflect.

“You're halfway around the world, so I don’t really have a choice. I just have to make it happen. Whatever it takes this year, there is not really a plan B.”
— Matt Wilson

Game On

Sea Otter Gravel is relentless. The course offers no place to hide and demands one thing: push the pace or get left behind.

Fueling becomes its own rhythm. Bottles, gels, and even a few well-timed mini Cokes are passed off at feed zones across the course. As Cam Jones puts it, eat, eat, eat.

The Finish

By the time riders roll back onto the roads of Fort Ord and Laguna Seca, everything has been left out on course. The effort shows. Thousand-yard stares slowly turn into smiles, though the dust never quite leaves.

Matt Wilson delivers when it counts, securing the number one wildcard spot at Sea Otter and setting the stage for what comes next. With Unbound ahead, the focus shifts to bigger miles and longer efforts.

With the first round of the Lifetime GP in the books, Cam Jones heads to Spain for Traka. It is a new race for him, but he always has the potential to ride at the front wherever he lines up.

But before the weekend is over, he adds another race to his schedule, lining up for Fuego XL. Cam pushes the pace and stretches the field until only one rider can hold his wheel. A crash in the final corner leaves him second on the day, but smiling.

What's Next

Sea Otter may be in the rearview, but the season is just getting started. The SCOTT Gravel team will regroup for Unbound Gravel, the biggest test of the year.

Stay tuned for more from Emporia, Kansas, where the next chapter unfolds!

Thanks to Ri Ganey and Kyle Thornhill for capturing the moments from Sea Otter Classic.