UNBOUND GRAVEL: Featured races see first-time winners

First-time winners were the rule of the day for the featured races at a muddy, soggy Unbound Gravel.

Kristen Legan of Nederland, Colorado, was the top women’s finisher in the XL 350 and sixth overall in the XL with a time of 26 hours, six minutes and 35 seconds. She finished in one of the heavy downpours that were commonplace on the course by mid-afternoon.

Logan Kasper of Baldwinville, Massachusetts, was the top XL finisher in 22 hours, 54 minutes and 25 seconds — nearly two hours ahead of the nearest competitor. His strategy?

The elite men’s 200 race came down to a seven-rider pack pushing up Highland Hill and then sprinting to the finish line. Keegan Swenson of Heber City, Utah, was a second ahead of Petr Vakoc of the Czech Republic, finishing in 10 hours, six minutes and two seconds.

Lachlan Morton, Laurens ten Dam, Ian Boswell, Russell Finsterwald and Peter Stetina finished third through seventh, respectively, with Stetina eight seconds behind Swenson.

In the elite women’s 200, Carolin Schiff won in 11 hours, 46 minutes and 39 seconds. It was her first time competing in Unbound 200, and she says her support staff made all the difference.

Matthew Gleason of Parkville, Missouri, was among the riders in the 50-mile race. The rain from Friday evening and Saturday afternoon may have caused problems for those who left before him and came back after he did, but Gleason says conditions for him were pretty good.

Click here to find Unbound Gravel finishers and their times.

5 pm Saturday: Keegan Swenson barely ahead of pack at finish line to win elite men’s 200

There was a classic finish for the Unbound Gravel elite men’s 200 race in downtown Emporia on Saturday.

Keegan Swenson of Heber City, Utah, claimed victory, leading a pack of seven riders to the finish line in a time of 10 hours, six minutes and two seconds. Petr Vakoc of the Czech Republic was one second behind. Lachlan Morton, Laurens ten Dam, Ian Boswell, Russell Finsterwald and Peter Stetina finished third through seventh, respectively, with Stetina eight seconds behind Swenson.

The elite women’s 200 is still to be decided, but Carolin Schiff of Germany leads the field and is less than 20 miles from the finish as of 4:30 pm. Sofia Villafane is second, followed by Sarah Lange.

As of 2:30 pm:

*Logan Kasper has won the XL 350 race. Kasper, of Baldwinville, Massachusetts, finished in 22 hours, 54 minutes and 25 seconds. Luke Hall is second with 335 miles completed.
*Lachlan Morton now leads the elite men’s 200 as the riders approach the Madison checkpoint. Morton was a second ahead of previous leader Laurens ten Dam — and seven lead riders are within eight seconds of each other at last check.
*Carolin Schiff remains in front in the elite women’s 200. At mile 145.6, Schiff had a 14-minute lead on Sofia Villafane.
*David Brower was the fast finisher in the 100-mile men’s race in 5:49:57, beating Elliot Phillips, Brian McCullough and Scott Funston by one second. Tiffany Cromwell was the fastest woman in 6:13:54.
*Morgan Chaffin won the 50-mile race in 2:24:53. William Raatz was the fastest man in 2:27:44.
*Katia Rojas was the fastest finisher in the 25-mile ride, reaching the finish line in 1:27:05. Jonathan Brown was the fastest man at 1:28:31.

As of 1 pm:

*Logan Kasper continues an impressive pace in leading the XL 350. Kasper is within 20 miles of the finish line.
*Leaders in the men’s elite 200-mile race are now within 80 miles of the finish. Laurens ten Dam has now overtaken the field, including the lead pack of eight riders, as of mile 124.2. Previous leader Paul Voss has slipped to eighth, but a minute separated the top eight riders.
*Carolin Schiff maintains the lead in the elite women’s 200 after mile 105.2. Sofia Villafane is second.

As of 11:15 am:

*Logan Kasper is now past the 300-mile mark in the XL 350. He still leads his closest competitor by around 20 miles.
*Paul Voss of Germany has a narrow lead over seven other riders at mile 105 in the elite men’s 200.
*Riders in the elite 200 women’s field have also passed the Eureka checkpoint, with Carolin Schiff of the Netherlands barely ahead of Sofia Villafane of Utah.
*Scott Funston of Colorado was leading the 100-mile field as of mile 64.3. Overland Park’s Riley Swickard was the top women’s rider, having passed mile 41.6.

9 am Saturday: Unbound riders begin their trek into Flint Hills

Riders from around town or around the world are heading into the Flint Hills.

Shortly before launching in the elite 200 women’s race, Sarah Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee, said riders love coming to Emporia for the event.

KVOE had an extended Talk of Emporia at the Lyon County History Center on Friday for rider check-in. Jacob Huber of Durango, Colorado, is in his first 200 — at age 18.

Hannah Stacey of Atlanta is in the 100. Her main fear on the course? Not “bonking.”

Stacey had this description on what it’s like to participate:

Chicago resident Lewis Gabeira is in the 200. His plan is to “suffer a bit.”

100-mile participants left at 7 am, followed by 25- and 50-mile riders at 9 am. The Unbound XL 350 mile ride launched from the All Things Gravel Expo in downtown Emporia Friday afternoon.

Conditions have ranged from dry to sloppy after several days of scattered brief but heavy rainfall. In fact, thick mud has already forced a lot of XL and 200 competitors to abandon the race, including former XL champ Taylor Lideen and Ted King, a 200 winner riding in this year’s XL.

As of 9 am:

*Logan Kasper is approaching 250 miles into the XL 350 race. He leads the race by nearly 20 miles.
*Kiel Rejnen and Jenna Rinehart lead their respective fields in the elite 200 races after 21.6 miles.

KVOE, KVOE.com and KVOE social media will have updates.

Videos by Chuck Samples, Dylan Sherwood, Ron Thomas and Tagan Trahoon/KVOE News