The riders in the Unbound Gravel series of races aren’t the only ones with a plethora of prep work before the races launch.
Putting in countless hours as well are the familiar voices that cover the various distances, Unbound announcers Bill Ellingston and Lauren Hall, who took some time to share their process during an appearance on KVOE’s Morning Show Thursday. Actually, hours may not be the right term as Ellingston noted the past several weeks have been spent “doing a lot of homework” in preparation for the 20th anniversary event.
Hall says that despite all of the prep work, vigilance is still a must once the races actually begin, saying a “piece of paper and pen” can go a long way as the races unfold. Hall and Ellingston also expressed their excitement for the field of riders taking part in the elite series races this year, with the best of the best once again taking part.
Ellingston noted that when it comes to Unbound, the field never gets lighter in terms of the quality of athletes because it is viewed as one of the key races where the best are made.
When it comes to being at the top of the pack with the depth of talent in gravel racing, Hall says gravel cyclists have to be more than just exceptional athletes. A former competitive road racer, Hall pointed out that gravel riding is a completely different beast than any other style of riding for a few key reasons, such as the level of support for athletes on the course and the unpredictable nature that comes with the race itself.
Hall and Ellingston’s appearance on KVOE’s Morning Show came just a day before the launch of Unbound’s first distance, the XL 350-mile ride on Friday morning, and just a few hours before the opening of the All Things Gravel Expo in downtown Emporia. The Expo looked a bit different than in years past as the core of activities was moved to the heart of Commercial Street.
One thing that was unchanged from years past was the large number of vendors on hand from all across the world. During her comments on KVOE’s Morning Show, Hall noted that anywhere you may go during unbound week, there is an international touch of some kind, and the expo is no exception. On top of that, Hall says the expo is also the place to be when it comes to hearing and seeing the newest, latest and greatest advancements in cycling tech.
The Expo will be open from 8 am to 5 pm on Friday. The official Unbound check-in activities will take place Friday morning on the third floor of the Lyon County History Center. KVOE will be hosting a special two-hour Talk of Emporia from the check-in activities beginning at 10:06 am Friday.
The XL 350 will launch from Commercial Street at 3 pm, with all other distances launching Saturday between 5:50 am and 10 am. More information can be found at Unboundgravel.com.
