Elite Races Underway

The 2025 Unbound Gravel is officially underway! The elite men started at 5:50 a.m. Central Time, followed by the elite women at 6:05 a.m. Stay tuned for the latest developments from Emporia,Kansas.

“The roads look fast and feel fast – for now. Muddy sections await, making positioning and being out front early all the more important.”

early Race Highlights

5:45 am: Before the start, Keegan Swenson was seen engaging in a unique pre-race routine, appearing to ground himself with his eyes closed.

5:50 am: The elite men’s race has begun in Emporia, Kansas!

6:05 am: The pro women are off, embarking on their Unbound Gravel journey.

6:05 am: Torbjørn Andre Røed surged ahead early, establishing a 10-second lead over a large peloton of approximately 80-100 elite men.

6:16 am: An update from the 350-mile Unbound XL, which commenced yesterday afternoon: Lachlan Morton has covered 305 miles in fifteen hours, closely pursued by Rob Britton at 301 miles. Heather Jackson leads the women, having completed 258 miles, followed by Serena Gordon at 248 miles.

6:33 am: At mile 19, the course is remarkably fast, with riders approximately 10 minutes ahead of the projected pace. Toby Andre Røed leads with a pack of about 10 riders trailing by 10 seconds.

The course is currently fast,but muddy sections are anticipated,emphasizing the importance of early positioning.

7:01 am: The women have reached mile 19.5, approximately 3 minutes ahead of schedule. Anna Gabrielle traxler and Kirstine Frida Rysbjerg are at the front, with Haley Smith and another rider in pursuit.

7:03 am: A pack of 60 riders forms the second chase group in the women’s field.

7:14 am: In the XL race, Lachlan Morton has reached 325.47 miles, with Rob Britton closely behind at 322.5 miles. Heather Jackson has slightly extended her lead, now at 274.93 miles compared to Serena Gordon’s 261.19 miles.

7:17 am: Sophie Vitzthum has withdrawn from the race due to a crash resulting in broken handlebars.

7:21 am: At mile 39 of the men’s race, a 30-second gap has emerged between the lead group and the first chase group. the lead group includes Chase Wark, John borstelmann, Ian Boswell, Nathan Spratt, Russell Finsterwald, Pete Stetina, Tobin Ortenblad, and 2022 winner Ivar Slik.

Alexey Vermeulen and Keegan Swenson are leading the chase group.

7:34 am: The high pace is causing both men’s lead groups to stretch out.

7:46 am: Women’s update at mile 31.4: Gabby Traxler maintains a 2.5-minute lead over Haley Smith, Kirstine Frida Rysbjerg, and Ann-Christine Allik. The peloton trails the chase group by approximately 2 minutes.

7:51 am: XL Check-in: The competition between Lachlan Morton and Rob Britton is intensifying, with Britton now approximately 1.5 miles behind with about 23 miles remaining. Last year’s men’s winner, Sebastian Breuer, finished in just over 20 hours.This year’s leaders are on pace to finish over two hours faster.