Unbound Gravel

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]

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:

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]

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.

• Ultra-distance cycling
• Leadville Trail 100 MTB, a mountain bike race in Leadville, Colorado
• Weather:
  • Severe weather terminology (United States)
  • National Weather Service Wichita, Kansas
  • National Weather Service Topeka, Kansas