With over 4,000 riders representing all 50 US states and 44 countries, Life Time UNBOUND Gravel 2024 marked the largest field size in the event’s history. The weekend commenced with the All-Things Gravel Expo presented by the City of Emporia, with hundreds of brands and vendors welcoming cycling enthusiasts from as far as Switzerland and Japan to demo and experience a range of products and services.
Participants were also invited to join in shakeout rides, led by local groups and brands including the likes of Shimano, Chamois Butt’r and Kodiak Cakes.
In the women’s elite UNBOUND Gravel 200 race, on May 31, 2024, an unprecedented nine-rider sprint finish resulted in a debut win for German PhD student, Rosa Klöser. Meanwhile, Australian elite rider Lachlan Morton (EF Education-EasyPost) took his first victory in the men’s race following a long-range breakaway alongside second-place finisher, Chad Haga (USA).
A couple of rain-free days allowed for the fastest racing at UNBOUND, with average speeds above 22mph (35kph) for the men’s race and 19.4mph (31kph) for the women. Following an overcast start to the day, blue skies and light winds characterised race-day conditions, with the dry, dusty dirt roads marking any fears of ‘peanut butter mud’ as unfounded.
For the first time in the history of the race, the 2024 edition of UNBOUND Gravel saw the elite women’s field secure an individual start time a full 15 minutes after the elite men, and 25 minutes ahead of the amateurs.
The elite results have triggered a number of changes to the Life Time Grand Prix overall standings, with UNBOUND Gravel 200 acting as the second race in the seven-race series.
Swenson’s 14th place allows him to maintain his place at the top of the men’s leaderboard with 59 points, Payson McElveen is now hot on his heels in second place (58 points) after crossing the UNBOUND finish line in 8th. Matthew Beers retains third place in the overall standings (56 points) following today’s 13th place finish.
The racing has also given the women’s Life Time Grand Prix standings a significant shake up, with Fuego XL winner Sofia Gomez Villafane’s 15th place seeing her drop to third (55 points), while Haley Smith’s UNBOUND 4th place boosts her to the top of the overall podium (62 points). Hannah Otto has also taken a step up the standings to second (58 points), following her 8th place result, just two seconds behind today’s race winner.
Kristi Mohn, Marketing Manager at Life Time, said: “We are so excited about the way this year’s race has turned out; it feels like we totally levelled up everything.
“Not only did so many people come out to race, watch and cheer on the racers, but the finish was a much better experience for all the athletes – not only the age group athletes but the elite riders. Best of all we got to see a true women’s race unfold, but a nine-up sprint?! That was incredible.”
The remaining 2024 Life Time Grand Prix events include:
- July 13 – 69 Mile Gravel at Life Time Crusher in the Tushar
- August 10 – 100 Mile MTB at Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik
- September 14 – 40 Mile MTB at Life Time Chequamegon MTB Festival presented by Trek
- September 28 – 110 Mile Gravel at Life Time The Rad Dirt Fest
- October 19 – 100 Mile Gravel at Life Time Big Sugar Gravel presented by Mazda
www.unboundgravel.com
www.lifetimegrandprix.com
