<\/p>\n Riders are prohibited from receiving outside assistance of any kind. They must manage their own nutrition, navigation and mechanical repairs while refuelling only at occasional gas stations along the route. There are no support crews and no aid stations.<\/p>\n Latest Videos From You may like<\/p>\n As rain and thunderstorms rolled through the Flint Hills region on Friday and Saturday, the 2026 edition of the ultra-endurance gravel race brought the muddiest conditions since 2023, forcing riders to hike through ankle-deep mud for dozens of miles.<\/p>\n “I walked probably half a marathon distance,” Gemperle told Cycling Weekly post-finish.<\/p>\n The 356-mile race marked Gemperle\u2019s second appearance at Unbound XL after making his debut in 2025, when he finished third in a course-record-breaking year of fast, dry roads.<\/p>\n “It was completely different!” Gemperle said of the two editions.<\/p>\n After racing Unbound XL in 2025, Gemperle went on to the Tour Divide, where he set a new course record by completing the roughly 2,700-mile unsupported race in 11 days, 19 hours and 14 minutes.<\/p>\n This year, Gemperle said he is focusing on shorter ultra-endurance events, and he was not prepared to settle for another third-place finish.<\/p>\n “This time I’m only here for the Unbound, and I kind of felt if there’s no second chance, I need to make it count. And to do good,” he said. “I did it for myself.”<\/p>\n What to read next<\/p>\n Gemperle also revealed that, in addition to the difficult course conditions, he battled stomach issues severe enough that he feared he might have to abandon the race.<\/p>\n But he persevered, finishing with a comfortable lead over second-place rider Max Agut.<\/p>\n \n (Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)<\/p>\n As widely reported ahead of the race, Gemperle competed on a prototype Scott bike built around 32-inch wheels<\/a>. Scott announced before the event that Gemperle and fellow rider Cam Jones would ride the unreleased platform across the Flint Hills course.<\/p>\n Scott stated the bike \u201cwill never be released on the market,\u201d but Gemperle was impressed with its performance.<\/p>\n “I think this bike is just amazing. The wheels rolled so smoothly over everything,” Gemperle said.<\/p>\n Asked about mud clearance, Gemperle laughed.<\/p>\n “There’s never enough clearance.”<\/p>\n At the time of publication, only Agut and Gemperle had reached the finish, while the remaining riders and the women\u2019s race were still ongoing.<\/p>\n Explore More<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/flexiimages\/4av7rcsjyn1645111080.svg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Robin](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/BVbWPLsAiXQwf5unKcbuBJ.jpg\")
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\nGravel racing
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\nUnbound Gravel
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