When it comes to gravel racing, there’s Unbound Gravel – and then there’s everything else. Dubbed the unofficial world championships of the discipline, the Kansas-based event draws over 4,000 riders each year to the remote Flint Hills. The terrain is rough, the distances are brutal, and the atmosphere is something between a festival and a full-blown endurance pilgrimage.
It began in 2006 as the Dirty Kanza, with just 34 riders testing their luck (and puncture resistance) on what are called “minimal maintenance roads”. Since then, the name has changed, the field has grown, but the DNA remains: self-reliance, grit, and the kind of effort that sticks with you long after the dust settles. Win here, and your name is etched into gravel lore.
Five distances (plus a junior race) make up the modern Unbound lineup, but two distances define it: the XL (350 miles through the night) and the 200 (the headline act). The one everyone talks about. A nine-to-ten hour race of attrition that starts with a big pack before the hills, distance and technicality whittle down the field to the strongest, before finishing with one exhausted rider throwing their bike across the line in Emporia.
Unbound Gravel 2025 race report: post-race debriefs with the pro riders
In 2025, Unbound had it all, including the fastest-ever XL where the overall victory in the men’s category came down to a final gap of just 6 minutes between the top two riders. Of note, Lachlan Morton, last year’s 200 winner, was narrowly beaten by ultra-endurance icon Robbie Britton.
The 200? Even faster and fiercer, marking another step up in the world of gravel. Earlier rain had dried up and the area’s notorious “peanut butter” mud didn’t materialise. This meant really high average speeds – helped by strong tailwinds – and the top riders chancing their hands with long-range attacks rather than splitting the race on the climbs.
Cycling 247 checked in with protagonists to find out first-hand what went down in the 200-miler.
Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling team: “It’s frustrating not to win…”
First up we spoke to Simon Pellaud from the Tudor Pro Cycling team, who finished 2nd in his debut Unbound.
“I’ve been thinking about this race since I signed up for the Lifetime Grand Prix, and for the past month, I’ve been all in: training at altitude in Colombia and studying course videos to fine-tune my setup.”
bike and set up
Bike: BMC URS
Cockpit: BMC ICS Aero
Wheels: DT Swiss GRC 50mm
Tyres: Schwalbe G-ONE Pro 45mm
Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR 50T – 10/46
Nutrition storage: Large frame bag
“There were a few key points where I went on the attack. Knowing there was a tailwind in the final 50K gave me the confidence to try to get away, knowing that a chasing group would struggle to close it down. The pace in the first hour was intense, and I knew I had to be sharp heading into Divide Road. I missed the first split but had a teammate up front, which gave me a reason to pull less while bridging across with five others.”
“At 70K, where it had been muddy earlier in the week, I got a gap with Cameron Jones. We worked well together and were surprised no one brought us back. Over such a long race, we both had rough moments, but we kept each other going. I missed some gels at the last feed, and the final 50K were brutal. On the last climb, I had nothing left and couldn’t follow Cameron’s move.”
“It’s frustrating not to win, but second in my first Unbound is huge. It’s motivating for the rest of this season and especially for next year.”
Maddy Nutt: “It’s amazing how deep the women’s field has become…”
Next up we spoke with Maddy Nutt, who shared some super interesting insights on how much the women’s field has developed in recent years.
“The level was clearly higher this year. As always, the start was fast – but also really tense. Unlike other races, the easier early section before Divide Road meant the group stayed large, and that led to several crashes. I got caught in one on Divide Road due to a mix of leftover mud and overconfident riding from others.”
“After that, I had to chase hard. I linked up with another woman and we made it into a good group, but I punctured and got dropped. At that point, I knew the race was over for me, so I just focused on getting to the finish.”
bike and set up
Bike: Lauf Seigla
Tyres: Panaracer Gravel King X1 tyres 45mm
Groupset: 38T – 10/50 Sram Red AXS Eagle
Nutrition storage: Apidura top tube bag for food and mud stick
“My favourite part? The trail angels handing out pickle juice. Honestly, they’re what make Unbound special – there’s nothing else like it.”
“I’m happy to have finished 35th, and it’s amazing how deep the women’s field has become. I heard the 45th woman this year finished in the same time as the winner did four years ago – and back then, drafting men was allowed.”
“I’m not sure I’ll come back. The nervous energy at the start and some reckless riding made me question if it’s worth it. But I still think it’s a race everyone should experience once. Huge respect to the women at the front. I didn’t see it myself, but to win both Traka and Unbound? That’s seriously impressive.”
Check out Maddy’s YouTube video below for more insights:
