Unbound Gravel

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Unbound Gravel
Race details
DateFirst weekend after Memorial Day
RegionFlint Hills around Emporia, Kansas, United States
DisciplineGravel cycling
CompetitionProfessional and amateur
Race directorSean Thurman[1]
Web siteunboundgravel.com
History
First edition2006[2]
Editions19 (as of 2024)
First winnerUnited States Dan Hughes (2006)
United States Leslie Hiemenz (2007)
Most winsUnited States Dan Hughes (4 wins)
United States Rebecca Rusch (3 wins)
Most recentDenmark Mads Würtz Schmidt (2026)
Argentina Sofia Gomez Villafane (2026)

Unbound Gravel, formerly known as the Dirty Kanza, is a gravel racing event held annually on rural roads in the Flint Hills region of the Great Plains around Emporia, Kansas, United States.[3][4] The event is typically held in the late spring and consists of multiple races with lengths varying from 25 miles (40 km) up to 350 miles (560 km). The event's organizers refer to the 200 miles (320 km) race as the "World's Premiere Gravel Grinder",[5] and it is ranked as one of the top gravel bike races in the world.[6][7][8] In 2024, there were approximately 5,000 registered riders across all races.[9] In 2026, the event was held May 28 to 31.

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 severe weather including rain and hail.[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 support checkpoints spaced about 50 miles apart for longer races. Riders must carry their own food and water, 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

The event started as a single 200-mile (320 km) race, but has expanded to include multiple races of various distances to encourage more riders to participate. Though the names of the race distances are rounded off to numerical values, the actual distance varies slightly based on the specific course chosen for the year.

The event consists of the following races:

Race Distance Introduced
Unbound Gravel XL 350-mile (560 km) 2018[14]
Unbound Gravel 200 200-mile (320 km) 2006[15]
Unbound Gravel 100 100-mile (160 km) 2013[10]
Unbound Gravel 50 50-mile (80 km) 2013[10]
Unbound Gravel 25 25-mile (40 km) 2013[10]
Unbound Gravel Junior 100 100-mile (160 km) 2013
Unbound Gravel Junior 50 50-mile (80 km) 2013

The Unbound Gravel 200 remains the marquee race of the event with prize money for the Elite rider category.[16] The Unbound Gravel Junior races are for children and young adults aged 12-18 and are part of the USA Cycling Junior Gravel National Series.[17]

History

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

In 2006, the first year of Dirty Kanza had 34 riders participate.[15] It was organized by Joel Dyke and Jim Cummins, and modeled off the similar Trans-Iowa and the Flint Hills Death Ride.[18] The race began with 34 rides and concluded with 15 finishers. Dan Hughes won the race in 12:58 hours.[19]

In 2018, Life Time Fitness purchased Dirty Kanza Productions.[20] That year the race had 2,500 registered riders.[21]

In 2019, the race had 2,750 registered riders.[22]

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,[23] then later were cancelled.[24]

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".[25][26] 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".[27] The ensuing controversy resulted in his eventual firing by the event's parent company, Life Time Fitness.[28][29] On October 29, 2020, it was announced that the name of the race would be changed to Unbound Gravel.[30]

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

In 2022, the 200 pro race became part of the Life Time Grand Prix.[31]

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 38 Countries.[32]

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.[33] Jones' finishing time of 8:37 is fastest ever 200-mile Unbound Gravel time,[33] shattering Morton's 2024 record time of 9:11.[34] 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.[35]

YearMaleFemale
2026 Denmark Mads Würtz Schmidt ArgentinaUnited States Sofía Gómez Villafañe
2025New Zealand Cameron JonesPoland Karolina Migoń
2024Australia Lachlan MortonGermany Rosa Klöser
2023United States Keegan SwensonGermany Carolin Schiff
2022Netherlands Ivar SlikArgentinaUnited States Sofía Gómez Villafañe
2021United States Ian BoswellUnited States Lauren De Crescenzo
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019United States Colin StricklandUnited States Amity Rockwell
2018United States Ted KingUnited States Kaitlin Keough
2017United States Mat StephensUnited States Alison Tetrick
2016United States Ted KingUnited States Amanda Nauman
2015United States Yuri HauswaldUnited States Amanda Nauman
2014United States Brian JensenUnited States Rebecca Rusch
2013United States Dan HughesUnited States Rebecca Rusch
2012United States Dan HughesUnited States Rebecca Rusch
2011United States Dan HughesUnited States Betsy Shogren
2010United States Corey GodfreyUnited States Emily Brock
2009United States Michael MarchandN/A
2008United States Cameron ChambersUnited States Kristen High
2007United States Steve GoetzelmanUnited States Leslie Hiemenz
2006United States 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.[35]

YearMaleFemale
2026 United States Robert Oehler United States Kylee Hanel
2025United States Hayden ChristianAustralia Tiffany Cromwell
2024United States Elliott BaringUnited States Lauren Stephens
2023United States David BrowerAustralia Tiffany Cromwell
2022United States Ethan OversonUnited States Marisa Boaz
2021United States Stephen HydeUnited States Lauren Stephens
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019United States Ashton LambieUnited States Lauren Stephens
2018United States Matthew AccarrinoUnited States Erica Mueller
2017United States Steven BaxterUnited States Rebecca Rusch
2016United States Guy AlvarezUnited States Rebecca Rusch
2015United States Austin MorrisUnited States Jennifer Rhoades
2014United States David WilsonUnited States Danielle Pellicano
2013United States Mark SchloegelUnited States 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.[35]

YearMaleFemale
2026 Robin Gemperle Svenja Betz
2025Canada Rob BrittonUnited States Heather Jackson
2024Germany Sebastian BreuerGermany Svenja Betz
2023United States Logan KasperUnited States Kristen Legan
2022United States William HarrisonUnited States Cynthia Frazier
2021United States Taylor LideenUnited States Lael Wilcox
2020N/A (race cancelled)N/A (race cancelled)
2019United States Jay PetervaryUnited States Lael Wilcox
2018United States Matt AckerUnited States Rebecca Rusch

Notable victories

  • Rebecca Rusch is notable for placing first female in six events across three distances: XL race in 2018; 200 race in 2012 / 2013 / 2014; 100 race in 2016 and 2017.
  • Lauren Stephens is notable for placing first female in three events of the 100 race: 2019 / 2021 / 2024.

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. "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. "10 contenders at Unbound Gravel". Cycling News. May 27, 2024. Archived from the original on June 4, 2024.
  10. 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. Archived from the original on June 6, 2024. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  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. "Unbound Gravel rebounds with stellar fields and prairie pain – Preview". Cycling News. June 2, 2021. Archived from the original on June 10, 2021.
  16. "UNBOUND Gravel 200". UNBOUND Gravel. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  17. "UNBOUND Gravel Juniors". UNBOUND Gravel. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  18. "Joel "Big Grin" Dyke". Gravel Cycling Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2023-09-21.
  19. "The first ever Unbound-winning bike | How have gravel bikes evolved since 2006?". BikeRadar. 2024-06-03. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  20. "Life Time Fitness acquires Dirty Kanza". 18 September 2018.
  21. "Dirty Kanza 200 Quick Facts". Dirty Kanza. 2018-01-23. Archived from the original on 2020-10-19. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  22. The 2019 Dirty Kanza Could Be the Toughest in History; May 29, 2019.
  23. "2020 Event Status Update (Postponement)". Dirty Kanza. Archived from the original on April 21, 2020.
  24. "2020 Event Status Update (Cancelled)". Dirty Kanza. Archived from the original on July 9, 2020.
  25. "Dirty Kanza organizers are considering options for a possible name change". CyclingTips. 2020-06-23. Retrieved 2020-07-08.
  26. "Dirty Kanza responds to campaign petitioning for name change based on racist allegations". 20 April 2020.
  27. "Dirty Kanza boss fired over 'inappropriate and insensitive' comment". VeloNews.com. 2020-06-21. Retrieved 2021-05-13.
  28. 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.
  29. Giddings, Caitlin (2020-07-15). "Why the Name of a Major Gravel Event Is Being Changed". Outside Online. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
  30. "The Dirty Kanza is now Unbound Gravel". VeloNews.com. 2020-10-29. Retrieved 2020-10-29.
  31. Cash, Dane (2021-12-10). "60 riders selected to contest Life Time Grand Prix series in 2022". Velo. Retrieved 2025-10-16.
  32. "About". UNBOUND Gravel. Retrieved 2026-05-07.
  33. Rook, Anne-Marije (2025-05-31). "'I had as good a chance as anyone' - Cameron Jones wins Unbound Gravel after spending 150 miles in a breakaway with Simon Pellaud". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 2026-05-13.
  34. "Lachlan Morton wins the 2024 Unbound Gravel | EF Pro Cycling". www.efprocycling.com. Retrieved 2026-05-13.