Unbound Gravel

Last updated
Unbound Gravel
Dirty-Kanza-Theater-Find-Your-Limit.jpg
Race details
DateFirst weekend after Memorial Day
Region Flint Hills around Emporia, Kansas, United States
Discipline Gravel cycling
CompetitionProfessional and amateur
Race directorBen Sachs [1]
Web site unboundgravel.com
History
First edition2006 [2]
Editions19 (as of 2024)
First winner Flag of the United States.svg Dan Hughes (2006)
Flag of the United States.svg Leslie Hiemenz (2007)
Most wins Flag of the United States.svg Dan Hughes (4 wins)
Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch (3 wins)
Most recent Flag of New Zealand.svg Cameron Jones (2025)
Flag of Poland.svg Karolina Migoń (2025)

Unbound Gravel, formerly known as the Dirty Kanza, is an event comprising gravel racing covering various distances held annually during the late spring on rural roads in the Flint Hills region of the Great Plains around Emporia, Kansas, United States. [3] [4] The race's organizers refer to the 200 miles (320 km) race as the "World's Premiere Gravel Grinder", [5] and ranked as one of the top gravel bike races. [6] [7] [8] In 2024, there were approximately 5,000 registered riders across all races. [9]

Contents

Course

Starting and ending in Emporia, the routes runs along rural roads in the Flint Hills of east-central Kansas. [3] The course route varies each year, and can change directions from year to year (north or south route) from Emporia. In some years the temperature on the route has exceeded 100 °F (38 °C) in the afternoon, while other years have seen rain or hail, and severe weather is possible in Kansas. [10] It is not uncommon for rain to occur before or during the race causing some dirt roads to turn into "mud roads". [11]

There are checkpoints spaced about 50 miles apart for longer races, and riders must carry water and food, as well as fix their own tires and bikes. [12] [13] If riders receive outside support at any location other than official checkpoints it will result in immediate disqualification. Riders may assist other riders by any means and at any time. [3]

Events

Originally, the event was started as a 200-mile (320 km) mile race, but over the years additional lengths have been added to encourage more riders to give it a chance. Though the name of the race distances are rounded off to nice numerical values, the actual distance of each race is slightly different.

The event consists of the following races:

History

Waiting for Dirty Kanza bike race to start at sunrise in Emporia (2017) Sunrise in Emporia.jpg
Waiting for Dirty Kanza bike race to start at sunrise in Emporia (2017)

In 2006, the first year of Dirty Kanza had 34 riders. [15] It was organized by Joel Dyke and Jim Cummins, and modeled off of similar rides Trans-Iowa and the Flint Hills Death Ride. [16] The race began with 34 rides and concluded with 15 finishers.[ citation needed ] Dan Hughes won the race in 12:58 hours. [17]

In 2018, Life Time Fitness purchased Dirty Kanza Productions. [18] That year the race had 2,500 registered riders. [19]

In 2019, the race had 2,750 registered riders. [20]

Several changes occurred in 2020. First the races were postponed from May 29–31 to September 10–13 because of the ongoing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic issues, [21] then later were cancelled. [22]

Organizers considered a name change for the event to remove reference to Kaw nation (also known as Kanza) based on an online petition despite representatives of the Kaw Nation responding to the allegations, saying "Life Time and the Kaw Nation are proud of our relationship, which is built upon mutual respect, dignity, and integrity" and "It was felt that 'Kanza' paid homage to the region (the Kanza Prairie), to its rich history, and to all things associated with the region, including the Kaw Nation". [23] [24] The same year, the event's surviving founder made a statement that the police shooting of an intoxicated black man in Atlanta who grabbed an officer's taser and fired it at the officer was "justified". [25] The ensuing controversy resulted in his eventual firing by the event's parent company, Life Time Fitness. [26] [27] On October 29, 2020, it was announced that the name of the race would be changed to Unbound Gravel. [28]

In 2021, the race had 2,626 registered riders. [15]

In 2023, there was a total of over 4,000 registered riders for all races.

In 2024, there was a total of around 5,000 registered riders for all races, with 1,480 in the Unbound Gravel 200, and 1,829 in the Unbound Gravel 100. [9] Riders came from all 50 U.S. States and 40 Countries.

The 2025 200-mile editions were won by Cameron Jones and Karolina Migoń. Simon Pellaud of Switzerland was second, after riding in a breakaway with Jones for much of the day. And with Norwegian Torbjørn Andre Røed third, it was the first time Unbound Gravel did not have an American rider on the elite men's 200-mile podium. [29] Jones' finishing time of 8:37 is fastest ever 200-mile Unbound Gravel time, [30] shattering Morton's 2024 record time of 9:11. [31] In the XL race, winners Britton (at 17:49) and Jackson (at 20:57) both shattered course records.

Winners

Unbound Gravel 200

Before 2020, the race was known as the Dirty Kanza 200 (or DK 200). This 200 mile race was first held in 2006. Results verified at Athlinks. [32]

YearMaleFemale
2025 Flag of New Zealand.svg Cameron Jones Flag of Poland.svg Karolina Migoń
2024 Flag of Australia (converted).svg Lachlan Morton Flag of Germany.svg Rosa Klöser
2023 Flag of the United States.svg Keegan Swenson Flag of Germany.svg Carolin Schiff
2022 Flag of the Netherlands.svg Ivar Slik Flag of Argentina.svg Flag of the United States.svg Sofía Gómez Villafañe
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Ian Boswell Flag of the United States.svg Lauren De Crescenzo
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Colin Strickland Flag of the United States.svg Amity Rockwell
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Ted King Flag of the United States.svg Kaitlin Keough
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Mat Stephens Flag of the United States.svg Alison Tetrick
2016 Flag of the United States.svg Ted King Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Nauman
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Yuri Hauswald Flag of the United States.svg Amanda Nauman
2014 Flag of the United States.svg Brian Jensen Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Hughes Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch
2012 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Hughes Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch
2011 Flag of the United States.svg Dan Hughes Flag of the United States.svg Betsy Shogren
2010 Flag of the United States.svg Corey Godfrey Flag of the United States.svg Emily Brock
2009 Flag of the United States.svg Michael MarchandN/A
2008 Flag of the United States.svg Cameron Chambers Flag of the United States.svg Kristen High
2007 Flag of the United States.svg Steve Goetzelman Flag of the United States.svg Leslie Hiemenz
2006 Flag of the United States.svg Dan HughesN/A

Unbound Gravel 100

Before 2020, the race was known as the DK 100. This 100 mile race was first held in 2013 as the DK Half Pint. It became an official race distance in 2019. Results verified at Athlinks. [32]

YearMaleFemale
2025 Flag of the United States.svg Hayden Christian Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tiffany Cromwell
2024 Flag of the United States.svg Elliott Baring Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Stephens
2023 Flag of the United States.svg David Brower Flag of Australia (converted).svg Tiffany Cromwell
2022 Flag of the United States.svg Ethan Overson Flag of the United States.svg Marisa Boaz
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Stephen Hyde Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Stephens
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Ashton Lambie Flag of the United States.svg Lauren Stephens
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Matthew Accarrino Flag of the United States.svg Erica Mueller
2017 Flag of the United States.svg Steven Baxter Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch
2016 Flag of the United States.svg Guy Alvarez Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch
2015 Flag of the United States.svg Austin Morris Flag of the United States.svg Jennifer Rhoades
2014 Flag of the United States.svg David Wilson Flag of the United States.svg Danielle Pellicano
2013 Flag of the United States.svg Mark Schloegel Flag of the United States.svg Lynn Malir

Unbound Gravel XL

Before 2020, the race was known as the Dirty Kanza XL (or DK XL). This 350 mile race was first held in 2018. Results verified at Athlinks. [32]

YearMaleFemale
2025 Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Rob Britton Flag of the United States.svg Heather Jackson
2024 Flag of Germany.svg Sebastian Breuer Flag of Germany.svg Svenja Betz
2023 Flag of the United States.svg Logan Kasper Flag of the United States.svg Kristen Legan
2022 Flag of the United States.svg William Harrison Flag of the United States.svg Cynthia Frazier
2021 Flag of the United States.svg Taylor Lideen Flag of the United States.svg Lael Wilcox
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019 Flag of the United States.svg Jay Petervary Flag of the United States.svg Lael Wilcox
2018 Flag of the United States.svg Matt Acker Flag of the United States.svg Rebecca Rusch

Notable victories

See also

References

  1. "Contact". Dirty Kanza. 2010-12-11. Archived from the original on 2020-09-26. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  2. Taylor Rojek (8 August 2018). "Gravel Rides are Saving Small-Town America". Bicycling.com. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". Dirty Kanza. Archived from the original on June 22, 2020.
  4. Legan, Nick (20 December 2017). Gravel Cycling: The Complete Guide to Gravel Racing and Adventure Bikepacking. VeloPress. ISBN   978-1-937716-98-1.
  5. "Photo Gallery: Grit and Gravel at the 2018 Dirty Kanza 200". Cyclocross Magazine. 13 June 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  6. "Top 10 gravel races in the USA". Cycling News. June 16, 2020. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021.
  7. Global Cycling Network Top Five Gravel Events on YouTube
  8. "Extreme Race's Allure Is Simple: 200 Miles of Gravel". The New York Times . Associated Press. 23 May 2015.
  9. 1 2 "10 contenders at Unbound Gravel". Cycling News. May 27, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Farrel, Sean Patrick (11 June 2013). "Neither Wind Nor Gravel Will Stop These Grinders". The New York Times .
  11. "Chaos and controversy: Inside the quagmire that clogged Unbound Gravel 2023". Global Cycling Network (GCN). October 5, 2023.
  12. Taylor, Tom (14 June 2017). "What it's like to race in the Dirty Kanza 200". Sports Illustrated .
  13. Ian Dille (7 July 2015). The Cyclist's Bucket List: A Celebration of 75 Quintessential Cycling Experiences. Rodale. p. 120. ISBN   978-1-62336-446-5.
  14. Spencer Powlison (31 May 2018). "Dirty Kanza goes big with new 350-mile race". VeloNews. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  15. 1 2 3 "Unbound Gravel rebounds with stellar fields and prairie pain – Preview". Cycling News. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021.
  16. "Joel "Big Grin" Dyke". Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  17. https://www.bikeradar.com/features/pro-bike/dan-hughes-first-unbound-winning-bike
  18. "Life Time Fitness acquires Dirty Kanza". 18 September 2018.
  19. "Dirty Kanza 200 Quick Facts". Dirty Kanza. 2018-01-23. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  20. The 2019 Dirty Kanza Could Be the Toughest in History; May 29, 2019.
  21. "2020 Event Status Update (Postponement)". Dirty Kanza. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020.
  22. "2020 Event Status Update (Cancelled)". Dirty Kanza. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020.
  23. "Dirty Kanza organizers are considering options for a possible name change". CyclingTips. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  24. "Dirty Kanza responds to campaign petitioning for name change based on racist allegations". 20 April 2020.
  25. "Dirty Kanza boss fired over 'inappropriate and insensitive' comment". VeloNews.com. 2020-06-21. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  26. Samples, Chuck. "Dirty Kanza founder fired from Life Time Fitness over social media post on officer-involved shooting". www.kvoe.com. Archived from the original on 2021-05-13. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  27. Giddings, Caitlin (2020-07-15). "Why the Name of a Major Gravel Event Is Being Changed". Outside Online. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  28. "The Dirty Kanza is now Unbound Gravel". VeloNews.com. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  29. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/gravel/cameron-jones-wins-unbound-gravel
  30. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/gravel/cameron-jones-wins-unbound-gravel
  31. https://efprocycling.com/racing/lachlan-morton-wins-the-2024-unbound-gravel/