For gravel racers, this weekend is the Super Bowl.
Unbound Gravel returns to Kansas this weekend, bringing together some of the biggest names in off-road racing for what many still consider the unofficial world championship of gravel, with riders taking on events ranging from the 25-mile and 50-mile races to the 100-mile, marquee 200-mile and the (even more!) gruelling 350-mile XL.
It’s the marquee 200-mile event rolling through the rugged Flint Hills around Emporia where the biggest names in gravel, along with some major road stars, will battle it out.
What began in 2006 with just a few dozen riders has exploded into the sport’s most famous gravel race, attracting thousands of competitors from around the world.
Defending winners Cameron Jones and Karolina Migoń headline this year’s elite fields alongside former WorldTour riders and gravel specialists.
Men’s 200
Multiple Tour de France stage winner Romain Bardet and Thomas De Gendt are also racing, along with another former, but now unretired, WorldTour rider, Taylor Phinney. The American star isn’t returning to the road, but he is definitely making a big push for the track with the team pursuit, with the L.A. Olympics in mind
Canadians racing the elite men’s Unbound Gravel 200 include Andrew L’Esperance, Kyle Fry, Julien Gagné, Adam Roberge, Brody Sanderson and national champ Ben Perry.
Women’s 200
The women’s elite field features some of the biggest names in gravel racing, including 2022 winner Sofía Gómez Villafañe, defending champion Karolina Migoń, 2024 victor Rosa Klöser and former WorldTour star Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio.
Canadians in the women’s elite field include Laurie Arseneault, Florence Normand, Haley Smith, Lindsay Glassford, Anna Gabrielle Traxler and Mikayla Arends. Smith has previously impressed at Unbound and also had a strong ride recently at Traka 365. Normand will be racing her first Unbound after a long career on the road.
The great news is you can watch all the action for free on the Life Time Grand Prix YouTube channel. Coverage begins at 6:35 a.m. EDT. There are plenty of other Canadians racing in the other distances too, you can check out how they do on the UNBOUND Gravel website.
And if you miss it? Don’t you worry, Canadian Cycling Magazine will have a full report.
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Canadian Cycling Magazine…