UNBOUND 200 2026
Unbound Gravel is never just another race.
As gravel's most iconic and highest-profile event, it's a race that can launch careers, cement legacies, and stand as the ultimate goal for riders around the world. But race day in Emporia is only the final chapter of a much longer story.
For athletes, Unbound week is a whirlwind of course recon, final training sessions, equipment checks with mechanics, sponsor commitments, and endless conversations fueled by rumors that somehow manage to be both misleading and completely true. All this comes after months of focused preparation, carefully structured around one objective: being ready to race 200 miles at full gas across the Flint Hills.
By the time the field rolls out on Saturday morning, the work is done. The fitness is there. The equipment is dialed. The strategy is set. What happens next is often determined by something else entirely and can throw the best laid plans to waste.
Because at Unbound, your biggest rival isn't always the competition. It's whatever the course throws at you on the day, and why everyone knows the number one rule at Unbound is respect the course and always be ready for the unexpected.
With much of the 2026 course being unfamiliar territory for even the most experienced racers, the SCOTT squad arrived early and got to work. Over several days, they broke the 200-mile course into manageable sections, riding key portions of the route to get eyes on features that looked questionable on the map and identify areas that could prove decisive on race day.
The team inspected the Minimum Maintenance Roads (MMRs), notorious pinch points that can become impassable mud traps when wet and launching pads for race-winning attacks when dry. They checked water crossings, identified sections where the infamous "peanut butter" mud could form, and studied the final miles to the finish line.
RACE DAY – THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM
The sun had not yet risen over Emporia, but the racers were already deep into their morning routines, eating breakfast, kitting up, stretching, and mentally preparing for the 200 miles ahead. Yet in the back of every rider's mind was the same question: had the thunderstorm that rumbled overhead during the night dumped enough rain on the course to cause havoc?
As the sun finally rose over Emporia, riders were greeted by what appeared to be a perfect morning. The roads leading to the start line were dry, and the calm conditions brought smiles, nervous laughter, and a brief distraction from the task ahead of them.
There was nothing left to do but lock in, run through the plan in your head one last time, and be prepared to throw that plan out the window at a moment's notice. It was time to race bikes.
IT WAS THE MUDDER OF ALL MUDDERS
What followed was a day that will be talked about for years to come.
The field rolled out of Emporia under relatively calm skies, but within the opening miles dark thunderclouds began building on the horizon. Then came the first major mud section.
"Unbound mud is next level. Race day was my first experience with the Midwest peanut butter mud and just how quickly and aggressively it can clog up and completely lock your wheels. I can definitely see the importance of spotting that mud before it's too late and committing to running a section to prevent the clogging from happening in the first place."
— Matt Wilson
In an instant, the race transformed. The notorious bike destroying mud clung to bikes, clogged drivetrains and wheels bringing momentum to a grinding halt. Some riders emerged ahead of the chaos. Others found themselves chasing. Many were brought to a screeching halt as they desperately scraped mud from frames and wheels in an attempt to keep moving.
"There was a stretch of 5 miles into a terrible headwind, just slugging through mud, all by myself with no women in sight, either in front or behind me. Mentally, knowing I wasn't even halfway yet was really hard. That was the only moment that I really questioned if I was gonna be able to do it."
— Iz King
Plans were abandoned. Strategies disappeared. From that moment on, it would become a true battle against the elements to see who could adapt quickly enough to take the day.
"In the first half I was either responding to an attack or coming back from mud delays. In those moments you know it is only pain in the legs stopping you from catching the group. At times like these I remind myself of all the hours spent training for this moment, how it's literally my job not to get dropped and think how disappointed future me would be in myself if I gave up because of some leg discomfort."
— Cam Jones
THE TEAM HAS YOUR BACK
Support crews waited anxiously at the first aid stations, huddled around cell phones watching the live feed, trying to identify where their riders were and what condition they would arrive in. Spare wheels were lined up. Power washers stood ready. Feed bags were organized and waiting.
The conditions were exactly what everyone had feared for days—a true worst-case scenario.
Groups of mud-covered riders arrived at speed, each hoping for the perfect pit stop. Mechanics scrambled to clear mud from clogged frames and drivetrains, address mechanical issues, and re-load their riders with precious calories before sending them back out into the Flint Hills.
Every second mattered. Every clean wheel, every bottle, and every quick decision could mean the difference between staying in the race and being swallowed by the chaos.
THE BATTLE TO THE LINE
The SCOTT riders battled through it all.
They pushed through deep mud sections, navigated treacherous MMR roads, and endured a relentless pace whenever the roads opened. As the race fractured, riders formed small groups working to keep an efficient pace, some fought their way back into the wheels, while others found themselves isolated, battling brutal headwinds and sheets of driving rain alone across the Flint Hills.
"The last 30 miles were mentally tough after spending a lot of time alone in the wind. I was fortunate to end up with a group to work with, and having people around helped me stay engaged and keep pushing to the finish."
— Alexis Skarda
At a certain point, tactics no longer mattered. The only option was to keep moving forward as hard as possible, keep eating, keep solving problems, and keep turning the pedals toward the finish line. Find the next rider up the road and chase them down. Keep one eye ahead and one eye behind, always aware of who might be hunting you down from behind.
"With about 30 miles to go when we got a few minutes reprieve from the savage head wind. You know riders ahead and the chasers have it too, but tail winds always bring a morale boost."
— Cam Jones
THE THOUSAND YARD STARE
The SCOTT squad rolled in with no first-place victors this year, but countless battles fought and won to get them over the line.
Alexis Skarda
SCOTT ATHLETE
"I handled the adversity better than I would have a few years ago. It wasn't a perfect day, but I stayed adaptable, kept moving forward, and found a way to make the most of a challenging race. That's something I'll definitely carry with me into Leadville."
— Alexis Skarda
Alexis Skarda approached Unbound with a methodical mindset: eat, drink, stay calm, ride your race, and deal with whatever the day throws at you.
Alexis stuck to her plan, pushed where the course allowed, rode within herself, stayed patient, stayed strong. By the finish, she had fought her way to 16th place on the day and 12th in the Life Time Grand Prix standings, keeping Alexis well within striking distance as the series heads toward races that play more to her strengths as a mountain biker. This year's Unbound will undoubtedly be a race she never forgets, but with Leadville on the horizon, we know she's already looking forward to the thin air, long climbs, and high-altitude to push the front of the race.
Matt Wilson
SCOTT ATHLETE
"Unbound was also a great reminder that it's never over until you cross the finish line. Everyone goes through low patches in these races, but as long as you keep eating, drinking, and don't give up, you eventually come back around. Finding my legs again in the latter stages of the race and catching the wildcard group in the closing miles was a great reminder of that."
— Matt Wilson
Matt Wilson fought all day, digging deep to stay with the main group until it eventually broke apart. Matt set one of the fastest times up Texaco Hill as he worked to bridge back to the leaders after mechanical issues brought on by the mud. Just one battle after another.
It may not have been the perfect day he was looking for, but Matt never gave up. By the end of the race, his resilience was rewarded—he secured a Wildcard spot in the Life Time Grand Prix. He had to earn his place in the series, and now his eyes turn to what comes next. With four remaining rounds, Matt will be working to make his name known.
Hannah Otto
SCOTT ATHLETE
"Never once considered quitting. I never even considered sitting up. I was all in and fully committed through it all. For the first time since 6 am this morning, I felt like I could release."
— Hannah Otto
Hannah fought with the best of them on one of the worst days in recent history at Unbound. It is no secret that Hannah prefers her MTB, but we know there is something addictive about Unbound, and we see it every time she lines up for this race. She is always a contender, and always in the mix, because she is someone who never gives up. We can't wait to see her challenge at Leadville in the next stop of the Grand Prix series.
Cam Jones
SCOTT ATHLETE
"Happy that my training gave me the legs to be fighting for the podium. I find myself wondering if I had ridden more defensively I might have been on the podium. But while it probably cost me some places, proud to have honoured the title defence by chasing the win as long as I could."
— Cam Jones
Returning champ Cam Jones headed back to Emporia aboard a prototype bike, ready to defend his title. The stage was set, the bike was dialed, but the weather had other plans. Cam spent most of the day in the lead group, making the splits and staying in contact with the leaders until the elastic finally snapped, leaving him riding solo in around fifth place.
Through relentless headwinds, Cam kept turning the pedals — chasing riders ahead while keeping an eye on the threats behind. With 20 miles to go, he was feeling strong, but a hidden section of mud jammed his wheels and forced him off the bike, allowing a chase group to reconnect.
Knowing it would come down to a sprint, Cam dug deep, but with a full day of massive efforts in his legs, he didn't quite have the finish he wanted, but still managed to secure a hard-fought 10th place on the day and fourth in the Lifetime Grand Prix standings, moving him up to eighth overall.
As he showed last season, the final four races suit him well, and we can't wait to see what he has in store next.
Iz King
SCOTT ATHLETE
"This was my worst result on paper at Unbound, but it was the result that I am most proud of. It took a lot of sacrifices in the months leading up to get to a point where I felt comfortable taking on this challenge and I'm really happy with how it went."
— Iz King
Iz King lined up for her first race back since becoming a mother, with a support team that had just grown by one. Returning to her favorite race, Iz rode the way she always does — within herself, steadily pushing, and always stoked to be out on course.
Crossing the line marked more than just a finish. It was her fifth Unbound finish, putting her into a rare category of racers with more than 1,000 miles of racing in the Flint Hills at Unbound.
Five years at Unbound. Five finishes. And now a three-person team: Joe, Hazel, and Iz. Iz continues to inspire us, and we can't wait to see what's next.
"The crazy weather was obviously not ideal, but it made it even more memorable as my first race back after having a baby. When I found out, I was having a C-section it put all the goals I had set for myself into question. I couldn't walk for weeks or ride a bike for two months without pain. Even lining up on the start line, I wasn't sure if I could do it. I'm hopeful that taking on this challenge is inspiring for other moms who are hoping to get back out there and take on something that intimidates them."
— Iz King
Brennan Wertz
SCOTT ATHLETE
"My biggest takeaway from this year's Unbound is to be prepared for anything at Unbound. We all know this race can and will throw anything and everything at us, but this year's edition was the strongest reminder of that I have witnessed in the 6 years since my first trip to Emporia. The mud is relentless and can eat a bike alive before you even realize what is happening. I am glad I got to experience that and learned a lot from it, but also certainly hope we won't have to deal with that again anytime soon! Looking forward to some hard packed Champagne Gravel in Steamboat Springs, Colorado next!"
— Brennan Wertz
Brennan headed to Kansas looking to lock in a strong result at Unbound. Over the past few months, he's taken on some of the biggest races on the calendar, steadily climbing the results sheet, narrowly missing the top step, and building momentum heading into one of gravel's toughest events.
Ready to test himself against the best in the world, Brennan pushed through endless mud and multiple mechanicals before his body finally had enough. Unable to keep down the fuel he needed to continue, he made the difficult decision to step away from the race. It was the right call on the day, even if it's never an easy one to make.
If there's one thing we know about Brennan, it's that he'll come back stronger, faster, and ready to push the pace again. We can't wait to see what he does at the next race.
SEE YOU AT THE NEXT ONE
Unbound may be in the rearview mirror, but it's a race we'll be talking about for years to come. Congratulations to every athlete who lined up across every distance — what a day, what a battle.
Follow the SCOTT Sports story here, across our social channels, and through the athletes who continue to push the sport forward.
Next up: long climbs, high elevation, and the road to Leadville.
