The biggest gravel cycling showcase in the world did not disappoint over the past week.
1 am Sunday
Unbound Gravel had its biggest field ever with over 5,000 cyclists. Part of that was the biggest field of XL 350 riders at over 200 — including a record time in the men’s race. Rob Britton of Canada pushed ahead of Lachlan Morton, who had led almost from the start, and came across the finish line in 17 hours, 49 minutes and 51 seconds. Morton’s time: 17:55:35. Britton says this helps to brighten what he says has been a challenging year.
Both leaders finished before 9 am — and both easily bested Sebastian Breuer’s prior record of 20 hours, five minutes and 36 seconds.
XL women’s leader Heather Jackson won the XL 350 women’s race in 20:57:57 in her first XL after competing several times in the 200. She sees a difference between the two races beyond the distances.
Jackson beat the 2024 finish of Svenja Betz in 23:46:57.
Cameron Jones of New Zealand is the Elite Men’s 200 winner — and the new recordholder — finishing in a time of 8 hours, 37 minutes and nine seconds, topping Lachlan Morton’s previous record of 9:11:47 last year. He says the win was in doubt until the infamous Highland Hill.
And Karolina Migon of Czech Republic won the Elite Women’s 200. Her win was also in doubt until shortly before the finish.
Life Time Marketing Manager Mason Mohn says this was clearly a special weekend.
The Finish Line Party brought thousands of people to downtown Emporia to browse shops, enjoy food, interact with riders and in general have a good time. Emporia Main Street Director Casey Woods says Unbound has a significant local impact, but it also helps to put Emporia on the national and international map.
Next year will be Unbound’s 20th.
*Track XL 350 riders here.
*Track all other Unbound Gravel participants here.
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5:20 pm Saturday
Another race, another record.
Karolina Migon of the Czech Republic broke away from the field, including a pack at the front, late in the race to win in 10 hours, three minutes and 54 seconds. Rosa Ki of Denmark won last year’s race in 10:26:02.
Earlier:
*Cameron Jones of New Zealand won the Elite Men’s 200 in 8 hours, 37 minutes and nine seconds, topping Lachlan Morton’s previous record of 9:11:47 last year.
*Heather Jackson of Oregon won the XL 350 women’s race in 20:57:57, beating the 2024 finish of Svenja Betz in 23:46:57.
*Robert Britton of Canada won the XL men’s race in 17:55:35. Sebastian Breuer won last year’s race in then-record time of 20:05:36.
12:45 pm Saturday
Winners have been crowned in the Unbound Gravel XL 350 races.
After a record-setting performance by Robert Britton, who beat last year’s prior men’s record by over two hours, Heather Jackson of Oregon won the women’s race in 20 hours, 57 minutes and 57 seconds. Jackson’s mark beat last year’s finish of Svenja Betz in 23:46:57.
Meanwhile, the Elite Men 200 race has become a two-man push to the finish involving Cameron Jones and Simon Pellaud at the mile marker 148.8 checkpoint. Cecily Decker, Lauren Stephens and Karolina Migon are within a second of each other as they lead the women’s race.
10:30 am Saturday
As Unbound XL 350 riders push across the finish line, Elite 200 leaders have passed two notable checkpoints.
Joris Niewenhuis of the Netherlands and Andrew L’esperance of Canada lead after the 101.2 mile marker checkpoint — but they are at the top of a six-rider bunch separated by a second as of the last update. For the women, Cecily Decker of New Mexico, Karolina Migon of Czech Republic and Lauren Stephens of Texas are separated by two seconds at the front of the field after 80 miles.
9:45 am Saturday
The XL 350 men’s record time lasted all of one year as Rob Britton of Canada pushed past Lachlan Morton in the final 30 miles to win in 17 hours, 49 minutes and 51 seconds — below Sebastian Breuer’s prior record of 20 hours, five minutes and 36 seconds.
Morton finished in 17:55:35, meaning both leaders finished before 9 am. Unbound organizers decided to pause the start of the main 50-mile field and the 25-mile field to allow for the leaders to cross the finish line.
XL women’s leader Heather Jackson was nearing 30 miles left as of 9:45 am.
For the 200 Elite Men field, Cameron Jones leads, followed by Brendan Johnston and Ian Boswell roughly five minutes behind. The 200 Elite Women field has Lauren Stephens, Karolina Migon and Cecily Decker in a tight pack at the front of the field.
7:30 am Saturday
Riders in the 200-mile field began departing Emporia shortly before 6 am, while riders in the 100-mile field left downtown Emporia at 7:30 am.
Still to come:
*50-mile junior riders begin at 8:30 am, followed by other 50-mile riders at 9 am.
*25-mile participants launch at 9:30 am
Meanwhile, the XL 350 leaders have set a blistering pace throughout the event since leaving downtown Emporia at 3 pm Friday. The leader, Lachlan Morton of Boulder, Colorado, is currently set to return to Emporia at some point after 8:15 am. If he maintains his current pace, he would obliterate the record of 20 hours, five minutes and 36 seconds set by Sebastian Breuer of the Netherlands. Morton won last year’s Elite 200 men’s race in 9:11:47.
The women’s XL leader, Heather Jackson, had just over 80 miles remaining as of 7:30 am.
Photos by Chuck Samples and Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News
