Hunt for the Wildcard Episode 2: Unbound Champion Cameron Jones

Wildcard no longer, Cameron Jones cements his place in the Life Time Grand Prix with a record-breaking performance at the 2025 Unbound Gravel. Cam wrote his name in the record books, setting the fastest time ever recorded on the infamous North Course.

In this episode, we tag along with Cam in the days leading up to the biggest gravel race of the year and get the inside scoop on how race day played out. Cam has had Unbound in his crosshairs since last year, when he first took on the Flint Hills. His confidence was high, his attitude relaxed, and it turned out he had the winning strategy all along.

Heading into Unbound, Cam was sitting third in the Wildcard hunt—just one race away from his chance to join the Life Time Grand Prix. He could have played it safe and raced just to secure the Wildcard spot, but that’s not Cam’s style.

"I think the safest option would be to just sit in and keep trying to make the splits of the main group. It’s probably going to come back together in the end, and saying all that, I do like a bit of danger; I would not put it past myself to do something silly.”
– Cam Jones, in the lead up to Unbound 

 

“I think people either love or hate Unbound, and I definitely love it”
– Cam Jones, in the lead up to Unbound 
  
The week leading up to Unbound was marked by mixed weather and questionable course conditions, leaving most riders puzzling over their strategy. Still, Cam rolled in with quiet confidence and worked closely with his SCOTT mechanic to dial in the race-winning formula.
 
“Yeah, no nerves at all, just all excitement, a lot more prepared than last year; all that’s left is to race.”
— Cam Jones

Cam rode out of Emporia, prepared to take the race to the group. Not satisfied with the early pace, he bridged up to a small group moving off the front of the pack—and then rode straight through them. Cam joined Simon Pellaud at the front of the race. They both understood the assignment and got to work, establishing a one-minute lead by the first aid station. Clean through the pit and fully fueled thanks to pro-level hand-ups from Cam’s mum and dad, he led the duo at a blistering pace, extending their gap to around eight minutes at one point.

As the duo closed in on the final 50 miles of the race, Cam had no intention of getting caught and took up the bulk of the pace-making. There was nothing the chasing riders could do to pull Cam back as he hunkered down in his aero position and went to work. In the final miles, it was clear one of the two riders would win the biggest gravel race in the world. Cam had no doubt in his mind that it would be him on the top step and put the screws to his breakaway partner up the final climb creating enough separation to enjoy a solo run down the finishing stretch to victory. 

 
“That was a very special moment at the finish line, got to celebrate with all my friends and have Mum and Dad there as well; they have supported me my whole career, to be part of it in the feed zones and be there at the finish”
– Cam Jones  

Looking back, the signs were all there. Cam had done the work, put in the time, and was ready to show the world what he had on race day. In true fashion of a future cycling legend, Cam loves the process—and he’s already looking ahead to the big mountains as he begins training for Leadville.

“It’s a career-changing result, obviously super stoked about it, but a result like that isn’t why I do it; still clean your bike, plan the next trainings, the rest of the season, and move on to the next one.”
– Cam Jones

“The training for Leadville is what I am really excited about, going into high mountains and going on some missions, which is what it’s all about for me”
—Cam Jones

CREDITS:
Videography & editing: Danny Awang // @danny.awang
Photos: Kyle Thornhill // @kylethornhill 

Check out Episode 1 and see how Cam’s season kicked off. Hot off a flight from New Zealand, Cam only had a few days before the Sea Otter Classic to prepare for the race and set himself up for the rest of the season. Ge to know where Cam comes from and join his adventure!