UNBOUND Gravel 2024: The Ventum Photo Epic

Dust to dust, crashes to tire slashes — The 2024 edition of UNBOUND Gravel was one for the ages. We traded miles of mud for metric tons of dust and gravel roads made almost entirely of lemon-sized rocks.

Ventum fielded a squad of nine athletes across the men and women’s elite fields in the 200-mile race, plus a small army of participants in the 4,000-person-plus amateur events. It was a successful run on nearly all accounts — Emma Grant pulled off a top-20 in the women’s elite field followed closely by Caroline Tory and Emily Newsom. In the men’s race, Zach Calton made an impressive 25th, followed by John Borstelmann and the duo of Marc and Nathan Spratt.

There were flats, crashes, Formula 1-style pit stops and a near endless stream of rolling hills. As Calton lovingly put it in a pre-race social post, UNBOUND Gravel is the “final boss” of American gravel racing. It certainly lived up to that title this year.

We sent the incredible Marc Arjol Rodriguez out into the Flint Hills to document the race. Here’s a collection of images that tell the story of the day.

Zach Calton looking pensive before the start of the 200-mile UNBOUND Gravel race. Calton would go on to finish 25th on the day.

The pointy end of the women’s elite field not far from the start. Ventum athlete Emily Newsom, in the PAS kit on looker’s left, would fight back from early mechanical trouble to finish 25th.

Borstelmann came cooking into Aid 1 in the small town of Alma roughly 70 miles into the race. He was off the front at this particular moment with a dispersed group of 5-6 other riders.

In a race where flats, stomach issues, and the like are the norm, Emma Grant was absolute clockwork. Through every time check and every aid, she was incredibly consistent.

Marc Spratt took on a mix of calories that would have made @gasstationfoodcyclist proud (Oreos, Monster Energy drinks, Pringles, some sort of unidentifiable sugary cake, etc.)

Ice socks and rags soaked in coolers were staples in the aid stations. If it’s not raining at UNBOUND, you better bet it’s going to be hot and humid.

A small mechanical involving a broken electrical-taped water hose clamp held Calton at Aid 1 for several minutes, forcing him to chase back on to the main group. Shoutout to Clayton Otto, husband and pit crew to fifth place finisher in the women’s field Hannah Otto, for the clutch work in getting it fixed.

Caroline Tory quickly swapping a USWE pack in Aid 1.

Calton, deep in one of the semi-sketchy Minimally Maintained Roads (MMRs) that give the North Route of UNBOUND Gravel its tough reputation.

Marc Spratt, front wheel, pulls a small group with his brother, Nathan Spratt, third wheel, somewhere mid-race.

Calton’s GS1 gravel bike was a relatively unique one out of the entire men’s or women’s elite fields at UNBOUND Gravel. A suspension fork out front is paired with a mountain bike tire in the front. The frame bag has a hydration bladder.