UNBOUND Gravel Race Recap
As the second stop on the Life Time Grand Prix presented by Mazda, UNBOUND Gravel looms large as not only the World’s Premiere Gravel Race, but also as a key point in the series to garner points in a series punctuated with both mountain bike and gravel events.
It’s a gravel race, but is a mountain bike a better choice?
Much has been made of the chunky nature of north courses at UNBOUND, and as only the third time in history that the event has started headed north on Commercial St., there was a hefty amount of conversation among the athletes about how brutal the course would be. Would the punchier climbs and bigger gravel, combined with the inevitable mud, make the day a race of survival, or would the riders overcome the conditions with equipment and resolve? Would it be necessary to run wider gravel tires (like a 47mm or bigger) to tame the chunk of the northern courses? In the end, the answer was that the day was near perfect and the track allowed for fastest known times across all disciplines and distances. 
Elite Men’s
In the Elite Men’s Race, all eyes were on defending champion Keegan Swenson. After dominating the LTGP last year, and starting his series defense with a win at Fuego XL at Sea Otter this year, Swenson was the odds-on favorite even when stacked against stout global talents like UCI Gravel World Champion Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), Olympian Greg Van Avermaet (Team Last Dance), South African Champion Matt Beers (Specialized Factory), and perennial favorites like Payton McElveen (Allied, SRAM), Peter Stetina (Canyon Collective), and Lachlan Morton (EF-EasyPost). 
Perfect Conditions Lead To An Early Break
Under cool temperatures, light winds, and perfect gravel conditions, the Elite Men started their 200+ mile escapade. Almost as soon as the pavement ended, Tobias Kongstad (PAS Racing) attacked and he was joined by Jonas Orset (Nordic Trailblazer). Although the two seemed destined for an extremely long day in the saddle, the move was eventually joined by Innokenty Zavyalov and Chase Wark (DRFT LESS), who was running his signature “gravel aero” bike with a disc rear wheel, deep section front wheel, and frame add-ons to slip through the Kansas wind. While the move seemed early for a 200-mile race, especially with the firepower behind, this quartet did have the advantage of being able to pick lines and have good line of sight on the trickiest sections of chunky minimum maintenance roads (MMRs). Staying out of the fray would prove pivotal to Kongstad as he somehow preserved energy to sprint later in the day.
Behind, the 160+ riders in the peloton were settling into their respective race plans for the day. For Swenson, that meant deploying his Santa Cruz Ht Sqd teammate Tobin Ortenblad to the front to keep the pressure on, but also to provide order. This tactic had been employed by the Santa Cruz riders before, most notably in last year’s Leadville 100, where Swenson would go on to win and smash the course record. Clearly Swenson was confident in his training and the requirements of racing in the Flint Hills.
The Break’s Gap Swells As The Favorites Mark Each Other
Working well together, Zavyalov, Wark, Kongstad, and Orset continued to open up the gap over rough sections of MMR like E. Kaw Reserve and Divide Roads, while in the main peloton the battle was on between Swenson and Mohoric to enter these critical tracts first. Choosing a (hopefully) good line and sticking to it is crucial in these moments and as an UNBOUND first-timer, Mohoric was seen flitting from track to track hoping for the smoothest possible run…a risky move that could lead to a sidewall cut or worse. This would be the case throughout the remaining MMRs of Rockton and Christy Rds.Lachlan Makes His First Attempt
Through the first checkpoint in Alma at mile 70, the break’s lead had shrunk slightly, and shortly thereafter fan favorite Lachlan Morton made a bid to bridge the gap over to the break of four. Working smoothly and taking advantage of every aero gain possible, Morton would prise out a small lead over the 60-strong chasing pack, only to see it evaporate when he made a navigation error at mile 87. In his own words after the race, Morton admitted that this might have been for the best since chasing into a headwind was costing him energy he could use later.
Little Egypt Closes The Groups
Despite having close to a two minute gap to the chasers entering the roads around the Volland Store, the ratcheting pressure provided by Swenson and others meant that by the time the leaders exited the 2+ mile MMR of Little Egypt Rd., the break was over. This particular portion of the course has been critical in years past, and there was no doubt that the top riders knew that the action was about to go down, even roughly 100 miles from the finish. Through the neutral water oasis in Alta Vista, the pack remained together with no one opting to stop to top off. Lachlan Goes Again, This Time With Help
On the next MMR, a rutted 2-mile track at mile 125, Thijs Zonneveld attacked and was joined by Haga and Morton, escaping a dwindling chase pack that still contained Swenson, Beers, Stetina, and UNBOUND newcomers, Sebastian Schoenberger (Felt Bicycles), Mattia di Marchi (Enough Cycling) and Kongstad, but lacked Mohoric and past winner Ian Boswell (Specialized/Wahoo), the former having succumbed to flats and a broken wheel, while the latter was spent from his efforts driving the pack for his teammate Beers.
While the chasers assessed their situation, the trio of Haga, Morton, and Zonneveld soldiered on, taking equal turns in an attempt to stave off the pack. Near the final checkpoint of the day, and in an attempt to invigorate his breakaway companion, Morton gifted Zonneveld his last gel, only to have Zonneveld flat shortly thereafter and drop out of contention with 50 miles to go. From here on it would have to be Haga and Morton to the line.
The Gap Is There, But Is It Enough?
Throughout the remaining miles to Emporia and through the last MMR sections, Haga and Morton fluidly drove the pace to the finish line. Flying past other riders that were competing in shorter distances at UNBOUND, the vibe became one of athletic achievement surrounded by gobsmacked onlookers. Amateur riders stopped and cheered, took selfies, and even attempted to latch on to the Haga/Morton train for one brief uphill sprint only to be summarily dropped and then exclaim “that was AWESOME!”
What was less celebratory was the cohesion of the chasing group. Now numbering 30+ but with some passengers that were running close to empty, Swenson and Beers were growing weary of driving the chase and in a momentary lull, five riders: Peter Stetina, Mattia de Marchi, Piotr Havik, Simen Nordahl Svendsen, and Tobias Kongstad jumped away in an attempt to bridge to Morton and Haga. This left pre-race favorites like Swenson, Beers, Payson McElveen, Russell Finsterwald (Trek Drftlss), Van Avermaet (who, showing remarkable grit, had spent 2 hours chasing after flatting twice) and a resurgent Dylan Johnson (Felt UN1TD) to chase.The Home Stretch
Having completed the final MMR sections and last significant climbs, Morton and Haga cruised towards Commercial St., working well until suddenly they weren’t. On a short stretch of gravel near the finish Haga attempted a haymaker attack, easing off the wheel of Morton and then launching with full vigor. Ultimately, Morton was able to claw his way back to the wheel of Haga, but the truce was officially over…Morton would sit on Haga until the final climb of Highland Hill, the last climb through the Emporia State University campus. Having planned to launch an attack from the bottom, Morton was surprised when Haga did it himself and so instead matched Haga to the top of the climb before launching a massive counter attack. The attack didn’t stick, holding at just a few meters, and before the final turn on to Commercial, Haga recovered, dug deep, and moved in front again for a long sprint for home. But the distances of the final few blocks can be deceiving and biding his time, Morton waited to come around Haga until the final block, claiming his first victory in four attempts at UNBOUND Gravel.
Further back, the chasing groups ebbed and flowed, with riders attempting to close on the closest group of now four chasers (de Marchi, Piotr Havik (Classified/Ridley), and PAS duo Simen Nordahl Svendsen, and Tobias Kongstad…Stetina having been dropped before the last MMR), but ultimately it was for naught. Swenson, Finsterwald, McElveen and LTGP rider Torbjørn Røed made inroads, but their effort came undone when Swenson crossed wheels with his companions and crashed heavily and lost time. At the line it would be Kongstad claiming the third step on the podium, with Havik and de Marchi just behind. On the day, the top-10 was populated with 4 either current or former World Tour riders: Morton, Haga, Svendsen, Van Avermaet, and Schönberger.
So on a day that hinted at tough conditions, the opposite held true. A perfect racing environment for the crowd-favorite Lachlan Morton to strike out boldly on multiple occasions en route to the fastest time ever recorded at UNBOUND Gravel…9:11:47. 
Elite Women’s Race
For the Elite Women at the 2024 UNBOUND, the terrain was completely new: not just from a course perspective as many were familiar with north vs south, but when viewed through the lens of history, it was an unprecedented first. By starting the women’s race in a “timing envelope” between the Elite Men and the rest of the amateur field, the Elite Women (and the world) were treated to what was possible when the women have their own race to contest. In a word, it was amazing.
The Sprint Out Of Town
Under near-perfect conditions, 60+ racers rolled out of Emporia on a mission to not only tackle the tougher northern course of UNBOUND, but also to show what an unfettered women’s race could look like. The answer was…fast. Averaging speeds in excess of 20mph, pre-race favorites like Carolin Schiff (Canyon), Hannah Otto (Pivot/DT Swiss), Heather Jackson (Herbalife), Geerike Schreurs (SDWorx), Sofia Gomez Villafañe (Specialized Factory), Paige Onweller (Trek DRFTLSS), and Lauren De Crescenzo (Factor Bicycles/The Feed)were a tightly packed group until a crash at mile 15 caused a split. On To The First MMR
After some shuffling in the group, it was Emily Newsom (PAS Racing) that led the bunch on to the first MMR of E Kaw Reserve Rd. Shortly thereafter Leah Van Der Linden (Lauf) was active near the front but growing frustrated that no one was willing to strike out on their own. The group seemed content to mark each other and see how things played out throughout the rest of the day.Divide Rd. Divides The Field
The women wouldn’t have to wait long to see what the next move would be and it came when Cecily Decker (Scuderia Pinnarello) pushed the pace on Divide Rd. and put pressure on everyone. Villafañe, who was following Decker, punctured at about mile 44, which caused a second group to form on the road with Villanfañe working hard to close the gap by mile 51. In the interim, Anna Hicks took a flyer off the front with Heather Jackson and Paige Onweller leading the chase. Throughout the miles just after the first checkpoint, Sarah Sturm was pushing the pace as well as Whitney Allison (Bike Sports Co), Heather Jackson, and Minori Minagawa (Fount).
With Little Egypt On The Horizon, The Race Starts To Heat Up.
At around mile 80, Minagawa was able to pry open a 15 second gap, which De Crescenzo jumped across to. The pair worked well together until a road hazard caused a pinching of the riders and while De Crescenzo was able to stay away, Minagawa was reabsorbed into the bunch. This left De Crescenzo to soldier on alone through Little Egypt, one of the most notorious portions of the course, where she established a solid lead. But the rough roads of Little Egypt weren’t good for everyone. Rosa Klöser crashed while riding 5th wheel and elsewhere, a mechanical for Villafañe saw her drop from the lead group while inadvertently and simultaneously causing Schiff to crash. Upon exiting Little Egypt at mile 108, the deck had been reshuffled: De Crescenzo clinging to a narrow lead, while being pursued by a group of now 11 riders: Sarah Lange (Velocio Exploro), Haley Smith (Trek DRFTLSS), Alexis Skarda (Santa Cruz HtSQD), Jenna Rinehart (Specialized/Mazda Orange Seal), Paige Onweller, Carolin Schiff, Geerike Schreurs, Heather Jackson, Hannah Otto, Sarah Sturm (Specialized/SRAM/Rapha), and Rosa Klöser (Rose/MAAP).
Setting Up For The End Game
As the racers left the neutral water oasis at Alta Vista, the status quo was mostly in place, although De Crescenzo was losing the grip on her lead, little by little. Rosa Klöser was faring no better as in the run-in to the final checkpoint, at mile 130, she crashed and suffered a rear wheel puncture. She fixed the issue quickly and regained the group, but the subsequent fix at the checkpoint cost her another 2 ½ minutes. She would eventually catch the lead group again, but was burning precious matches in the process.
With most of the major difficulties out of the way, at least in terms of chunky roads, it would be up to the climbs of Kahola and beyond to sort out the mix. Lake Kahola, a private lake northwest of Emporia features cooling waters, excellent views, and a significant climb. Locals know it, past riders of UNBOUND know it, and as someone that had trained frequently in the area…Paige Onweller knew it. Despite having recently returned from ankle surgery, the Kahola climb is where Onweller chose to apply the pressure and in doing so, dropped Sarah Lange and Alexis Skarda for good, and momentarily distanced Klöser.
From there is was a drag race back to Emporia over the relatively easy 20+ miles. The group of nine worked well together, perhaps sensing it would come down to a sprint. On the final climb of Highland Dr., it was last year’s winner Carolin Schiff that started the attacks, with Geerike Schreurs taking over over the top.
Sprinting For The Win
Turning on to Commercial St. no one knew quite what to expect…no one had ever seen this before…a 9-up sprint amongst some of the best gravel riders in the world, each going for the historic win in one of the purest women’s gravel races ever. In a separate, protected chute, Onweller led out the sprint, with Schreurs attempting to lead out her teammate Sturm, only to be overhauled by Klöser in the waning moments. Schreurs would finish second, followed by Onweller, Smith, and Jackson. It was a pivotal moment for women’s gravel cycling, for UNBOUND, and for all who witnessed it either live or online.
Results Shake Up The Overall In The Life Time Grand Prix
As the second stop in the Life Time Grand Prix, UNBOUND Gravel is a key opportunity to score points for the overall seven race series. With some unexpected results on Saturday, the outlook for the LTGP has gotten very interesting.Women
On the women’s side, Haley Smith was the big winner at UNBOUND with her 4th place finish. This moves her into 1st overall in the LTGP, despite her considering not to race at all given some recent health issues. Hannah Otto’s 8th, combined with her 3rd place at Fuego XL at Sea Otter sees her claim the 2nd position, while Sofia Gomez Villafañe falls to 3rd after not scoring as many points as she would have liked. Paige Onweller and Lauren De Crescenzo also picked up key points.
Men
Last year, Swenson was able to run the table on points for the LTGP, but with a less than perfect day for him at UNBOUND, the race for the overall has gotten very tight. While still in the lead, Swenson has seen his lead narrow to Payson McElveen to only a single point, and Matt Beers, Lachlan Morton, and Brendan Johnston all nipping at Swenson’s heels.
Those that will rue the day the most include Russell Finsterwald who crashed late in the race, Petr Vakoc who finished 40 on the day and now sits 9th in the LTGP standings, Peter Stetina who looked incredibly strong in the closing miles but ultimately faded, and of course Swenson who seemingly was able to snag points at will last year.
And for those that sat out this round, like Alexy Vermeulen (Enve/Factor/Chamois Butt’r), it’ll be interesting to see if his tactic pays off. Clearly Swenson not scoring highly doesn’t hurt his cause. Likewise for Cole Paton (Giant) and Howard Grotts (Specialized), both of whom are hoping for a strong second half of the season.
