Elite racers shifting towards the 350-mile Unbound XL generates debate: Is the gravel race essence being diluted?
Going the Extra Mile:
Helping to redefine the gravel cycling scene, Unbound Gravel has emerged as an epic race for top-tier cyclists worldwide. The approximate 200-mile event boasts an impressive roster of competitors, with hundreds vying for a slice of Unbound's prestigious glory. These athletes undergo rigorous, intentionally structured preparation and training for their shot at victory. Gone are the days of self-guided journeys with paper maps, corner store snacks, and embracing the uncertainty of the Flint Hills' unexpected challenges.
But as the 200 becomes more competitive and organized, an increasing number of professional gravel cyclists are gravitating towards the 350-mile XL alternative. Could the 200-mile race be too fast and cutthroat, or is the 350-mile XL a pursuit of the authentic gravel spirit?
Renowned cyclist, Yuri Hauswald, shares his perspective, "The thresholds of adventure racing are constantly moving." Hauswald, who claimed Unbound victory in 2015, was among the first wave of riders to tackle the XL challenge in 2018. In 2023, more than 200 cyclists have signed up for the XL expedition, with nearly a dozen professional men and women on the pursuit of something different.
"It's all about the experience," says Laurens ten Dam. A veteran of more than 20 years of professional racing, ten Dam participated in Unbound for the first time in 2021. He consistently ranked among the top five finishers for the 200-mile event; however, in the intensely competitive year of 2023, he placed 50th. "Honestly, I believe the upcoming generation of riders is simply too influential for me," ten Dam concedes.
Akin to Lachlan Morton, the 2022 200-mile winner, ten Dam desires a change. Numerous former WorldTour professionals, each boasting at least three Unbound 200 appearances, have also opted for the XL race. Ted King attempted the 350 in 2023 and is back for another attempt, while Rob Britton, who has recently embraced ultra-distance racing, is casting his luck again.
"Racing gravel for me constitutes the second chapter of my career and never intended to mirror road racing," Britton explains. "I continue to scout out new races, ones that excite me and deviate substantially from what I experienced for 15 years of road racing—something a little less official and less stressful."
Although ten Dam, Morton, and Britton all proclaim they are in it for the experience, the field of the XL's front-runners will still be swift and exhilarating.
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"I believe longer races necessitate more thorough planning," Morton states. Given the lack of external support and the heightened chance of complications in the 350-mile distance, mental preparation is equally important as physical conditioning.
"I've devoted the past couple of weeks to finetuning my gear, my lighting setup, and the amount of nutrition I'll carry, as well as strategizing store stops," explains Heather Jackson, a professional triathlete turned gravel cyclist who's also competing in the XL. In 2022, Jackson was part of the lead pack of women in the historical Unbound 200, ultimately finishing fifth—an impressive career highlight. However, driven by a desire to test her potential in new ways, she sees the XL as an opportunity. "Currently, I'm focusing on excavating my personal limits and embarking on these adventures," Jackson shares. Her aim is to prepare for her next significant goal: the Western States 100 ultra-trail event.
"It seems as though the 200 is morphing into a road race," says Serena Bishop Gordon, who will be participating in her inaugural Unbound XL race. "I wouldn't say I was particularly enthused by the 200, as it began to resemble a need for the best pit crew, the best equipment. One of the reasons I opted for gravel, and I imagine others did, was its allure of adventure, mystery, and self-sufficiency."
As the 200 race evolves into a more elaborate competition, it's no surprise that many professionals, particularly those with backgrounds in other disciplines with stiffer rules, are hunting for a race that still encapsulates gravel racing's essence. "I adore the mystery of the unknown, and recognising that all I can concentrate on is generating the best performance I can, while external factors and challenges will unfold as they may," Gordon adds.
Eventually, what initially drew people to gravel racing was the desire to tackle something different and arduous. The history of Unbound is steeped in the spirit of exploration and self-discovery. It wasn’t about results, endorsements, or performance statistics. Now, more than ever, the XL race might better represent that narrative than the 200 does.
It's an adventure race, loaded with uncertainty—just the kind of event that appeals to ultra-endurance athletes such as Lael Wilcox. Wilcox, a specialist in fastest known times (FKT) in some of the world's harshest conditions, shares, "[Unbound XL] has always been challenging, I just believe no one cared about it previously."
The landscape of gravel racing is evolving. The 2024 edition of Unbound 200 demonstrated just how competitive and professionalized the discipline has become. It’s a positive development, fostering new opportunities in cycling and supporting the emergence of a new generation of professional athletes. Yet, some competitors haven't forgotten what initially drove them to gravel racing: adventure, challenge, and the unknown.
- Road racing and sports are intertwined as professional gravel cyclists, such as Yuri Hauswald and Serena Bishop Gordon, make a shift towards longer events like the Unbound XL, seeking a more authentic gravel racing experience.
- In the increasingly competitive Unbound Gravel scene, some athletes are striving for a return to the roots of gravel racing, embracing the spirit of adventure, challenge, and the unknown, rather than focusing on road racing tactics and results.
