Unbound Gravel

Unbound Gravel is the most important gravel race of the year, held in Emporia, Kansas. While there are 100-mile and 350-mile 'XL' versions, it is the 200-mile race that defines the event and the champions who win there.

The race, originally called Dirty Kanza, was first held in 2006 with a few dozen riders. Now more than 2,500 get into the sold-out event via lottery.

In 2021 Ian Boswell and Lauren De Crescenzo won.

Also read: Life Time reveals the 2022 Unbound Gravel courses

Latest Stories

Gravel Gear

Taking on 350 Muddy Miles at Unbound Gravel XL with the Gates Belt Drive System

‘You’re either a hero or you’re crazy.’ Ultra-endurance racer Chase McElroy found a massive challenge during a particularly muddy edition of Unbound.

The VELO TeamJuly 9, 2026

Gravel Gear

Proven at Unbound Before Its Release, Giant and Liv have New Gravel Bikes on the Horizon

As Giant teased a prototype version of the Liv Devote and Giant Revolt at Unbound Gravel, one of the prototypes made its way into the top five before the upcoming release.

Logan Jones-WilkinsJune 11, 2026

Gravel

At Unbound Gravel, Mike Woods Found a Challenge Far More Punishing than Any WorldTour Race

Kevin Costner, masochism, and a journey to the world's biggest gravel race.

Michael WoodsJune 10, 20267

Gravel Gear

Kansas Will Never Change — Reflections from an Unbound Mud Pit

In a sport that is getting faster, the slower moments, especially ones that exemplify why we challenge ourselves in the first place, only get sweeter.

Logan Jones-WilkinsJune 2, 2026

Gravel Racing

Unbound Gravel Power Analysis: Würtz Schmidt Is a Mud-Busting Metronome of Mega Watts

We dive into the numbers behind two wildly different wins from Würtz Schmidt and Gómez Villafañe in 'Mudbound' mayhem.

Zach NehrJune 2, 2026

Gravel Gear

The Mud at Unbound Was so Bad That People Peed on Their Drivetrains to Clean Them

Drastic times call for drastic measures, as riders at the 2026 Unbound Gravel 200-mile and XL were forced to use every tool in their toolbox to keep moving through the harsh mud of the Flint Hills.

Logan Jones-WilkinsJune 1, 2026

Gravel Gear

Pro Gravel Racing Changed Forever at Unbound Gravel This Year

Team tactics defined Unbound Gravel 2026, marking a watershed moment for a sport up until now defined by the lone privateer.

Logan Jones-WilkinsJune 1, 20262

Gravel Gear

The Winning Bikes of Unbound Gravel 2026

The 2026 Unbound Gravel 200 was defined by two things: 1) the mud; 2) the new Specialized Crux 5. We got a closer look at the winning bikes to find out why.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 31, 20261

Gravel Gear

How 32-Inch Wheels Actually Performed at Unbound Gravel 2026

The cycling industry braced for a 32-inch wheel revolution at Unbound, but the results delivered a complex technological stalemate.

Josh RossMay 30, 20265

Gravel Racing

Sofia Gomez Villafane Wins Unbound Gravel 200 in a Five-Up Sprint

Specialized Racing went 1-2 with Geerike Schreurs following up her teammate.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 31, 2026

Gravel Racing

Mads Würtz Schmidt Wins Unbound Gravel 200

The European gravel national champion had a strong day off the front to secure victory in the 20th edition of the race. His Specialized team went 1-2-5 on the day.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 31, 2026

Gravel Gear

We Got a Close Look at the Upcoming Factor Gravel Bike and It's Wild

We got to get a closer look at the unnamed follow-up to the Ostro gravel from Factor at the 2026 Unbound Gravel.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 30, 2026

Gravel Gear

LIVE Updates: All the Latest from Unbound Gravel

All the latest up-to-the-minute action as reported by Velo's on-the-ground team chasing the race around Emporia, Kansas.

Jim Cotton, Josh RossMay 30, 2026

Gravel Gear

Bikes for Unbound Gravel's Longest Race — How Racers Prep for the 350-Mile XL

Even though Unbound XL is one of the shorter events on the ultra-racing calendar, it is a mammoth effort to race.

Logan Jones-WilkinsJune 1, 2026

Gravel Gear

From 32-Inch Prototypes to Remote Lubrication — Unbound Gravel Tech Gets Wacky

Unbound Gravel was upended this week by a prototype 32-inch gravel bike that last year's winner will race at the event, but that is not all that is unique about the gear this year.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 29, 2026

Gravel Gear

The Best New Pro Gravel Bikes From Unbound Gravel 2026

With scores of new gravel bikes breaking seals over the last few months, we took a deep dive into the best new tech in the pro peloton ahead of 200 miles of rugged Flint Hills gravel racing.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 29, 20261

Gravel Racing

Unbound Gravel 2026 Start List: Dirt Specialists and WorldTour Road Pros in Kansas

The elite start list for the biggest race in gravel is stacked. Here are all the men and women lining up Saturday in Emporia for Unbound Gravel 200.

Jim CottonMay 30, 2026

Gravel Gear

This Bike Won the First Unbound Gravel 20 Years Ago. Things Have Changed a Lot Since Then.

What did gravel bikes look like before the true specialist machines we have today? We caught up with Dan Hughes, the first Unbound Gravel champion, to check out the bike he rode to the win in 2006.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 29, 20263

Gravel Gear

Defending Unbound 200 Champion Will Race a 32-Inch Gravel Bike in 2026

After Sea Otter, it was clear that 32-inch wheels were coming to off-road bikes very quickly, but little did we know just how quickly we would see a Unbound contender on one in 2026.

Logan Jones-WilkinsMay 27, 20266

Gravel Racing

How to Watch Unbound Gravel 2026 in the USA, Canada, and Worldwide

Here's how to follow 'The Super Bowl of Gravel' as Emporia, Kansas, welcomes a historically deep elite field on Saturday, May 30.

Jim CottonMay 24, 2026