Unbound Gravel 2026: Course, Entry & What to Expect

Unbound Gravel is the biggest day in American gravel cycling. Two hundred miles of relentless Kansas dirt, 11,000 feet of climbing, and a finish line that can take anywhere from 9 hours to well past midnight. If there’s one race that defines what gravel riding is all about — the suffering, the community, the sheer stubbornness it takes to finish — it’s Unbound. Here’s everything you need to know about Unbound Gravel 2026.

What Is Unbound Gravel?

Unbound Gravel (formerly known as Dirty Kanza) is held every June in Emporia, Kansas. It’s the centerpiece of the Life Time Grand Prix series and attracts the best gravel racers in the world alongside thousands of amateur participants. The race is known for its punishing Flint Hills terrain — relentless rolling dirt roads, creek crossings, and the kind of mud that can bring a race to a halt in minutes if the weather turns.

The race offers multiple distances: the marquee 200-mile event, a 100-mile option for those working toward the full, a 50-mile introductory distance, and the XL 350-mile ultra for those who find 200 miles insufficient punishment. The 200 fills up almost instantly each year and typically goes through a lottery system — which means you need to plan well in advance.

Unbound Gravel 2026: Dates and Key Details

Unbound Gravel 2026 takes place in early June in Emporia, Kansas. Registration typically opens in the fall of the prior year through a combination of direct entry and lottery. Life Time Fitness members and Grand Prix participants often receive early access. Check the Life Time Events website for official 2026 registration windows — and set a calendar reminder, because spots at the 200-mile distance go fast.

Entry fees for the 200-mile event typically run $300–$350 including timing chip and aid stations. The race includes vehicle support drop zones at roughly 100-mile intervals, and crews are allowed at designated locations along the course. Plan to book Emporia lodging as soon as registration opens — the town fills up months in advance.

The Course: Why the Flint Hills Break Everyone

The Unbound Gravel 200 course is deceptively brutal. The elevation profile doesn’t show massive climbs — the biggest rollers top out around 200 feet — but the relentless nature of the terrain grinds you down over the miles. The Flint Hills roads are a mix of crushed limestone, native rock, and dirt that turns into a sticky clay paste when wet. In a normal year you’ll deal with at least some mud.

The most feared section is the infamous Road D — a stretch of ultra-technical rock and rut that appears around mile 150, just when your legs have nothing left. Bikes with tire clearance under 40mm struggle here. The second half of the course, particularly miles 120–170, is where races are won and lost. Most DNFs happen in this window.

How to Enter Unbound Gravel

Getting into Unbound requires planning a year out. Here’s the typical entry path: Life Time Grand Prix athletes get first access; Life Time Fitness members get a priority window; general registration opens shortly after, often with a lottery for the 200-mile event. The 100-mile distance is easier to enter direct. The XL 350 has a separate application process with qualifying requirements.

If you miss the lottery, watch for withdrawal spots in the spring — racers who qualified for Grand Prix but didn’t register for Unbound sometimes open up slots. The Unbound Facebook community and the Life Time events email list are the best sources for last-minute entry opportunities.

Training for Unbound: Building Your Base

A 200-mile gravel race requires a different kind of preparation than a century ride or even a gran fondo. Your training needs to account for 12–16 hours of continuous effort at moderate intensity — not the hard anaerobic work of a road criterium, but sustained aerobic output with intermittent technical demands. Most coaches recommend a 20–24 week build for first-timers.

The key training variables for Unbound: weekly volume (build to 10–14 hours at peak), back-to-back long ride weekends (5+ hours Saturday, 3+ hours Sunday), and time on gravel-specific terrain. If you’re in the PNW or anywhere without flat dirt roads, look for gravel routes with sustained climbing — the muscular fatigue from rough terrain matters more than raw mileage.

For a structured approach, check our 12-week gravel race training plan — it’s designed for riders building toward their first major event and can be extended for an Unbound-level goal.

Gear Essentials for 200 Miles of Kansas Gravel

Tire selection is the most critical equipment decision for Unbound. Most competitive riders run 44–50mm tires tubeless with 2–3 sealant plugs in their kit. In dry conditions, a faster-rolling file tread like the Panaracer GravelKing SK in 43mm works well. In wet years, go full mud with a Schwalbe G-One Ultrabite or similar knobby option. Whatever you choose, run tubeless — a flat at mile 140 in road tube mode is a race-ender.

Nutrition and hydration setup matters enormously. Most riders use a frame bag, top tube bag, and two large cages. The aid stations are roughly every 50 miles, so you need capacity for 3–4 hours of self-supported riding between stops. Plan on 300–400 calories per hour. For gear recommendations, see our gravel tire buyer’s guide.

Ready to Race? See What Else Is on the Calendar

Unbound is the pinnacle, but the gravel calendar has dozens of excellent events at every distance and difficulty level. Whether you’re building toward the 200 or looking for something closer to home, the full race calendar has you covered.