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The programs for the 2025 Life Time Unbound Gravel offered by Shimano had been introduced 4 weeks earlier than the beginning in downtown Emporia, Kansas, which can be led by Unbound Gravel XL on Friday, Might 30 and adopted by Unbound Gravel 200 and three different distances on Saturday, Might 31.
All distances observe a single-loop format that rolls north on Business Avenue and into the Flint Hills of east-central Kansas, a second consecutive 12 months for a north loop throughout open prairie, rolling hills and the sharp, tyre-slicing gravel made well-known for the reason that occasion started in 2006.
From Emporia, riders will proceed in a counter-clockwise route, with the 350-mile XL course extending to the north simply past Interstate 70. Unbound 200 doesn’t go as far north, however is just a few miles in need of Interstate 70 on a piece of gravel at mile 80.
At mile 175 one of many the longest climbs of the day comes alongside Lake Kahola, an uncovered and sometimes windswept ramp adopted by rollers. Then there are 11 flat miles and the riders will speed up for the ultimate stretch again into Emporia.
As soon as again within the metropolis limits the final punchy climb is on tarmace at Highland Hill, alongside the sting of Emporia State College. This indicators the ultimate method to the end, with riders turning left on twelfth Avenue for 2 blocks, then proper for the ultimate straightaway on Business Avenue. The ultimate 1.5 miles of the course can be barricaded to guard spectators and riders, with a devoted end chute for the Unbound Gravel 200 riders to complete alongside the three different classes within the coronary heart of the town.
Programs should not marked, and roughly 95% of the routes are on ‘primitive’ dust roads, doubletrack and a few singletrack. As famous within the Rider Handbook, “within the occasion of inclement climate, gravel and dust roads can change into mud roads” and members are “inspired to organize their bikes, their our bodies, and their minds to be prepared for any and all doable situations”.
Extra particulars concerning the routes can be supplied nearer to the race date.
Unbound Gravel 200 route
The 200-mile route is available in at 202.4 complete miles with roughly 10,100 ft of elevation acquire. The route isn’t an actual carbon copy, however it should head out into Wabaunsee and Morris counties and result in the identical checkpoint and water oasis areas. Help crews will be positioned to resupply and restore gear in Alma, at mile 70, and in Council Grove at mile 148. The 2 ‘oasis’ factors on the route for water solely are at mile 40 at Eskridge and mile 112 at Alta Vista.
Unbound Gravel 100 route
The 100-mile route measures 109.7 miles and consists of roughly 3,600 ft of climbing. This ‘stepping stone’ to the 200 occasion has one checkpoint at Council Grove, which is mile 54, and one water oasis, at mile 92 in Americus.
Unbound Gravel XL route
