Robin Gemperle x UNBOUND XL
29 May 2025
It’s Unbound time. The biggest gravel event of the year is upon us, inspiring, motivating and gathering the whole gravel community. One week of celebration, preparations and course recons. This is the playground for the best of pros and where amateurs flock to challenge themselves. The stage where both worlds meet and where we can dive deep into the latest gravel tech and innovations.
There is one mythical distance at Unbound, the race that started it all: the 200... and then there is an insane one! This is the Unbound XL: 350 miles (or 560 kilometers for those of us who prefer the metric system) of pure suffer fest. This race is not for the ordinary riders, but for the ones persistent enough to push through until the end.
Luckily, SCOTT knows a guy who has the endurance and mentality for it – Robin Gemperle.
“When signing up for Unbound XL back in fall 2024, it was more of a nice additional event before making it to the start line of Tour Divide. It is a perfect warm-up for this longer race taking place two weeks later. This sure stays, but the relevance has been rising over winter and by now it’s a least as much one of my main goals of the season.”
On the 30th of June, Robin is lining up with some of the best long-distance riders in the world, in Emporia, Kansas, to test his limits at the Unbound XL. His mind, body and bike are ready to take on the Flint Hills.
"Year after year, Unbound is considered the absolute pinnacle in the World of Gravel. While the main race is a bit shorter, the XL distance ends after 560, mainly fast rolling Kilometers. Winners usually finish below twenty hours. But in case there will be rain; there will be the feared peanut butter mud, which slows down the complete route and might pose unexpected questions for my oh so dialed setup.”
Now let's cross our fingers for Robin and hope the rain stays away and the (g)roads remain dry.
Bike set-up:
Frameset: SCOTT Scale Gravel RC
Wheelset: Syncros Capital SL 40mm 25mm inner width
Handlebar: Syncros CRESTON IC SL X 380mm Width 100mm Length paired with Syncros CRESTON IC SL TT/TRI Clip On Bars
Seatpost: Syncros DUNCAN SL D 20mm Setback
Bartape: Syncros Gravel Bartape
Bottle Cages: Syncros TAILOR 1.0
Saddle: Syncros Tofino V SL Cut Out
Groupset: SRAM Red XPLR AXS Disc with 44t Chainring, 10-47T Cassette
Tires: Schwalbe Overland 365 45mm
Pedals: Garmin Rally XC200
Head Unit: Garmin Edge 1050 Solar
Packs: Apidura Racing Series Aero Prototype (not pictured)
Front Light: Supernova Airstream International
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