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Keegan Swenson and Carolin Schiff win Unbound, Haley Smith 7th, Adam Roberge 8th

Muddy sections created brutal racing conditions

Carolin Schiff of Bremen Germany, wins Unbound 200 with a finishing time of 11:46:39. Schiff crossed the finish line solo, only accompanied by a rainstorm that chased her in for the last 20 miles. Photo by: Unbound
June 5, 2023
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Keegan Swenson and Carolin Schiff won the Life Time’s Garmin Unbound Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear on Saturday in Emporia, Kansas. The 2023 edition had the largest field size in the event’s history, with 4,000 riders taking on the gruelling courses through the Flint Hills area. Top Canadian in the elite men’s race was Adam Roberge, coming in 8th. In the elite women’s event, Haley Smith took 7th. Former road pro Rob Britton also had a solid ride, finishing in 16th.

Keegan Swenson of Park City, Utah wins Unbound Gravel

During the main event,  the 200-mile race, a troublesome muddy section wreaked havoc on the participants starting from mile 11, lasting for several miles. As a result, the racers had to resort to walking, running, or riding on the grass alongside the gravel road. The muddied conditions caused some riders to encounter mechanical issues, either delaying their progress or forcing them to withdraw from the race. Despite a period of dry weather in the middle of the race, rain made a comeback and drenched the finish line in the evening.

In the elite women’s race, Jenna Rinehart initially took an early lead of approximately two minutes. However, Sofia Gomez Villafane, the 2022 winner, managed to catch her and go on to establish a lead of around one minute by mile 40. Around mile 70, Carolin Schiff from Germany caught up with Villafane, accompanied by Ruth Winder, Marisa Boaz, Sarah Sturm, and Alexis Skarda in pursuit. Schiff gradually widened her advantage, particularly around the halfway mark, ultimately clinching victory with a lead of over 15 minutes.

The men’s race also faced challenges as a result of the muddy roads. By the time they reached mile 20, a leading pack comprising approximately ten riders, including Kiel Reijnen, Keegan Swenson, Howard Grotts, and Russell Finsterwald, had formed. Lachlan Morton and Ian Boswell pushed the pace early on, creating a gap between the leading group and the chasing riders. Eventually, the group dwindled down to seven participants, engaging in tactical maneuvers as they approached the finish.. In the end, Swenson emerged victorious in a sprint finish, improving upon his second-place performance from 2022.

For the full results in all categories, check out UnboundGravel.com