Unbound Gravel 2023

[fourflys]

Originally Posted by prototoast

That looks like the Santa Cruz Stigmata gravel bike.

EDIT: https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/kee...-winning-bike/

Ben Delaney has a good video up talking a bit about this bike and the new, un-named, Canyon that their riders were racing..
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k4EgtyVCzE

[cuda]

I thought the same. I imagine it would have affected the chance for a safe/effective sprint from those following.

[spoonrobot]

Much of the 200 mile field and almost all of the 100 mile field spent 45 minutes-1 hour+ walking through 3 miles of mud that came at mile 11.

Oof what a start.

It is a little crazy that they finish a 10 hour pro event in the same finishing chute as average joes finishing the 100 with a 9 hour time or something. Seems super dangerous, and potentially frustrating for those in 3-7 who had to deal with that traffic.

Some complaints about this every year but it seems like this year it really affected the sprint. Waiting to see better video but this should have been part of the pro/amateur separation, like how the start times were adjusted.

I'm sure Stetina (who came in 7th out of 7 in the sprint) will have some velonews article about it next week.

Can't get over how narrow the bars are that Keegan Swesnon rode - 32cm?

[m_sasso]

Yes, looks like some were riding the Lambda X-Wing Aero bar, https://www.lambda-racing.de/xx-aero-gravel-lenker. Do these gravelers abide by the UCI 350mm bar width rule or is is a free for all?

[NHAero]

Is the 200 mile race the premier event, vs. the longer XL?

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by m_sasso

Yes, looks like some were riding the Lambda X-Wing Aero bar, https://www.lambda-racing.de/xx-aero-gravel-lenker. Do these gravelers abide by the UCI 350mm bar width rule or is is a free for all?

Interesting website, I can't get on with turned in shifters but can understand why.

No minimum handlebar width for Unbound. All the USA national level events are pretty sparse on technical regulations.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by m_sasso

Yes, looks like some were riding the Lambda X-Wing Aero bar, https://www.lambda-racing.de/xx-aero-gravel-lenker. Do these gravelers abide by the UCI 350mm bar width rule or is is a free for all?

https://www.unboundgravel.com/officialrules/

Equipment rules are pretty sparse:

UNBOUND Gravel Athletes must utilize an approved bicycle. This bicycle must:
Consist of a frame mounted on two wheels, one behind the other
Have a seat and have handlebars for steering
Be propelled solely by the operator via two pedals connected to the rear wheel by a chain or belt
Have two hand-operated brakes (fixed gear and coaster brake bikes are not exempt from this rule)
The same bicycle frame must be utilized for the duration of the race. Other components may be swapped out in checkpoints. Athletes may assist each other on course with parts.
Singlespeed riders must utilize the same gearing for the duration of the race.

The elite category includes these additional rules:
Racing for this category must be selected at time of race registration
While an athlete may self-select this category, Life Time reserves the right to change a rider’s designation to their appropriate age group division prior to the race date, and will consult the rider before doing so.
All athletes selecting to race in the pro/elite category will not be eligible for age group podiums
All pro/elite riders are subject to random drug testing
The elite mens and womens field will begin prior to the amateur start
No aerobars, bar extensions, or clip on attachments of any kinds will be permitted
All other rules remain in place

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by NHAero

Is the 200 mile race the premier event, vs. the longer XL?

Yeah... 200 is what pro roadies do when they can no longer cut it on the road. XL is what gravel riders do when they can no longer cut it on the 200.

[JWB475]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Yeah... 200 is what pro roadies do when they can no longer cut it on the road. XL is what gravel riders do when they can no longer cut it on the 200.

Washed up Pro Roadies like Keegan Swenson?

[BumbleBeeDave]

I'm trying like heck to imagine any possible reason I'd ever need to ride that far on gravel. Forty is pretty much my limit. After that it's just not any fun any more.



BBD

[spoonrobot]

The finish was a mess

First and second sprint through

Then a group of 5 riders from the 100(XL/50/25?) taking up the entire chute

Then 3rd

4-7th not seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pOBngZJPl4

Ignominious end to a race so well-fought by the first seven riders. Lots of negative comments online, they need to fix this next year.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by prototoast

Yeah... 200 is what pro roadies do when they can no longer cut it on the road. XL is what gravel riders do when they can no longer cut it on the 200.

The XL has always been it's own thing, pulling from a different group of riders. Ted King did it this year intending it as a tune up ride to the TDR.

We haven't seen many top-10/25 riders go from 200->XL.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

The XL has always been it's own thing, pulling from a different group of riders. Ted King did it this year intending it as a tune up ride to the TDR.

We haven't seen many top-10/25 riders go from 200->XL.

2018, the first year of the 350, former winners Yuri Hauswald and Rebecca Rusch both moved up to the 350. Now we're seeing former 200 winner Ted King move up the 350.

Maybe it's not all overlap, but I can't think of a 350 rider who moved down to the 200 and was in contention. The 350 is definitely lower prestige and a shallower talent pool.

[prototoast]

Originally Posted by spoonrobot

The finish was a mess

First and second sprint through

Then a group of 5 riders from the 100(XL/50/25?) taking up the entire chute

Then 3rd

4-7th not seen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pOBngZJPl4

Ignominious end to a race so well-fought by the first seven riders. Lots of negative comments online, they need to fix this next year.

Wow... that's worse than I thought--straight up embarrassing for the organizers.

I normally mock Stetina for whining about everything, but for once I'll be on his side if he calls out this ****show. Either the elites need a separate finish line, or they need to neutralize the 100 mile riders when the lead group is coming in.

[spoonrobot]

Originally Posted by prototoast

2018, the first year of the 350, former winners Yuri Hauswald and Rebecca Rusch both moved up to the 350. Now we're seeing former 200 winner Ted King move up the 350.

Maybe it's not all overlap, but I can't think of a 350 rider who moved down to the 200 and was in contention. The 350 is definitely lower prestige and a shallower talent pool.

Hauswald only did the XL once, he went back to the 200 the next two years and then shorter distances. Rusch pretty much retired after the 2018 XL.

Better examples would be Matt Acker and Mat Stephens - two riders who were in the top 10 at the 200 in 2017. Acker won the XL in 2018, 2nd in 2019. Stephens was 2nd in the 200 in 2017 and then 5th in 2018/15th 2019 - before going to the XL and getting 3rd in 2021 and 5th in 2022. Of course Taylor Lideen went from 8th in the 200 in 2018 to winning the XL in 2021. There's isn't really anyone else from the modern era. Jay Petervary was on the podium at the 200 pre-2017 and won the XL in 2019 but he's always been a ultra-endurance racer so the application doesn't seem to apply.

It's a shallower talent pool for physical ability but at that distance other factors have a bigger relative impact which is why the most likely option for riders who lose relative standing in the 200 is to do other events (Geoff Kabush) or keep doing to 200 while dropping places every year (Dylan Johnson).

The majority of riders who've done the XL haven't done the 200. The ratio increases each year the further out from the initial event - the XL is coming into it's own as an ultra-endurance race and not a gravel race or next step up from the 200.