UNBOUND 2021
The mother of all gravel races. The Artist Formerly Known As (Dirty) Kanza. There has been a lot to do about the name change and to the why behind it. As Europeans, watching from a distance, we were not really getting it. Or maybe we were a bit too slack in wanting to really know what the problem was. A petition to change the name started circulating around April 2020, encouraging the race to change its name, because it was offensive to the Indigenous (Indian tribe) peoples of the area. But that was not the only reason, it seems. Jim Cummins, the founder of Dirty Kanza expressed himself in a wrong way, when judging the shooting of a man, called Brooks, by an Atlanta police officer. These two events, one that had been simmering for a long time and the other, being part of a much larger problem, that culminated that summer, made a name change inevitable. If you would like to read more on this subject, please visit this site (https://www.outsideonline.com/2415512/kanza-name-change-indigenous-bike-race)
With the name change, a new future is possible for the gravel event. And wether it is a coincidence or not, with this change, there was a growing interest from across the big blue ocean. Like from a retired Dutch roadie, who was eager to show what he is worth on unpaved roads. Covid took away the whole of 2020 and there had been only training and no racing. The victory in his first ever gravel event Gravel Locos, two weeks prior to Unbound, told him the legs were good and ready to roll. His friend Thomas Dekker, also a former roadie, was eager to show himself once more after many years of non-cycling to join the adventure and together they had been training all winter for this event.
THE DAY BEFORE
The choice between aero/lightweight and sturdy/unbreakable is a tough decision. If you are too heavy, you loose precious energy. If you are using material that is too light, it breaks. If you think Kansas gravel resembles the stuff you put on your drive lane, you couldn’t be more wrong. There are parts were the word ‘road’ is really too much. Pointy sharp, loose big rocks make both a fast descent as a ‘steady rolling’ climb far from easy.
And then, there is the distance. A lot can happen in 200 miles. Flats are to be expected, worse can happen. You need to be your own mechanic, otherwise you are screwed anyways. The two feeding zones are respected by everybody, also the fastest riders. No passing without filling. We race afterwards again. This ‘secret’ rule is one of the things that make gravel racing special. It looks like it’s all friendly and relaxed, but in the end, the race is brutal and decisive in so many other ways. Tactics for that matter are not appreciated. There were a bunch of Dutchies at the start line, but to ride as a national team is not what this race is all about. Impossible also, because chances are the field will spread within 50 miles.
RACE DAY
If you get a few hours of sleep, you are lucky. Nerfs are telling you, today is important. The alarm is set at 5.00 or maybe even 4.00 if you are a slow starter. A big bowl of oatmeal it is.
The start line looks impressive. All the gravel kings and queens are there: Peter Stetina, Ted King, Colin Strickland, Ian Boswell and Quinn Simons. Alison Tetrick, Lauren de Crescenzo and Amity Rockwell. And then there is the other 4000 something. All smiles and happy to be back at an event.
Mile 50: There is a group of approximately 40 guys leading the race. Thomas suddenly feels a dropping movement in his saddle, which shouldn’t be the case. Before he even understands what the problem is, he hears a big cracking sound. And no saddle anymore when he looks between his legs. There is a lot that can be fixed, but really nobody takes a spare saddle when starting Unbound. DNF.
Mile 100: a lot has happened in the second 50 mile part. More and more riders have been dropped and a lead group of only seven race across a road called Little Egypt, which tells a lot about the environment (and the pace). Laurens sees the usual suspects plus Robin Carpenter (Rally Cycling) and 2015 US Pro criterium champion Eric Marcotte. Quinn Simons, who had been taking the lead earlier in the race, had to quit because of a crash.
Mile 125: The group drops Carpenter and Marmotte at the neutral water oasis and faces a fierce headwind on their way back to Emporia, with the increasing heat of the Mid Western sun chasing them. Strickland and Stetina get to join the group again.
Mile 185: When Stetina tries to take the lead, King, Boswell and Laurens work hard together to get him back.
Final 10 k: Boswell and Laurens keep on going, King finds himself at a one minute distance together with Stetina. Laurens sees no opportunity to loose Boswell, there are no climbs anymore. It ends up in a close sprint, with Boswell taking 1st place.
‘’At least I got first in my age group’’
Disappointment can only be felt when the win is that close. But a few hours later, there is only pride and satisfaction. When you decide to do gravel racing, you don’t really know how it will be like. When a year of Covid-19 gets in the way of all the races and there is only training in Holland, it is difficult to say what your real chances are. Preparation and material is everything, and a bit of luck too. Aiming for top 10 but finishing on the podium twice is a dream come true and a definite sign you are doing okay. Asking how this race felt like, is asking how it was for a woman to give birth. The stats of power and the painful faces afterwards should tell you enough. Like Ivar Slik told us: ‘’This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done’’. The mental breakdowns you have to face alone on your bike, the ‘nothing’ out there except a rocky road, the mechanical set backs you have to deal with. The amazing volunteers providing snacks and drinks. The cheering for every rider that crosses the finish line, even for the very last ones at 3.00 a.m. in the night. The BBQ stamp with the number 200 you get for finishing first in your age group. It all ads up to an amazing event. A once in a lifetime for some, a reason to come back next year, even more determined, for others.
