Lachlan Morton (EF Education-EasyPost) delivered an thrilling victory at Unbound Gravel 200, crossing the Emporia end line forward of Chad Haga within the elite males’s race.
Tobias Kongstad got here third within the 203 mile (327 km) battle by way of the Flint Hills of Kansas.
More to return …
How it unfolded
Unbound Gravel 200 is the signature occasion on the expansive world gravel calendar, a barely modified north course making a return for a 3rd time because the occasion began in 2006. For the primary time in two years, situations have been practically excellent, with the lads beginning at 5:50 a.m. CDT underneath overcast skies, mild winds and funky temperatures within the low 60s Fahrenheit. The rain had not fallen within the space for a number of days, so there was no worry of turbulence in mud, solely 2,000 extra toes of elevation achieve from the 12 months earlier than, now amped as much as 11,849 toes whole.
In the opening 5 miles on pavement, Tobias Mørch Kongstad attacked for a solo lead. On the primary part of gravel simply outdoors Emporia, he was joined by Jonas Orset and the duo had a one-minute hole, Innokenty Zavyalov and Chase Wark giving chase.
By mile 32, the lead duo had 30 seconds over Zavyalov and Wark. The second chase group of fifty riders was heavy on high contenders together with John Borstelmann, defending champion Keegan Swenson, Jan Bakelants, gravel world champion Matej Mohorič, Niki Terpstra, Greg Van Avermaet, Peter Stetina, Russell Finsterwald, Lachlan Morton, Alex Howes, Petr Vakoc, Laurens ten Dam and Nathan Haas.
After overlaying 40 miles and the speeds nonetheless extraordinarily excessive throughout the lumpy path of Kaw Reserve Road, Zavyalov and Wark joined Kongstad and Orset and pushed their result in 5:49.
The first of two checkpoints, in Alma, marked 70 miles accomplished, the foursome’s lead right down to 4:12 and a number of the new climbing areas looming forward. Once on Divide Road, Morton gave it a go in pursuit of the leaders and throughout the following 10 miles, because the route started to wind its approach again to the south, he had taken again one minute. The giant chase pack now had 63 riders and was 1:20 behind the Australian, the tempo being set by Boswell, Swenson and Beers. Some of the contenders dropping again have been Van Avermaet, Howes, Howard Grotts and Brennan Wertz.
Under the skies a vivid blue dotted with small clouds there was no serenity underneath the wheels as they headed to Little Egypt, one of many roughest roads of the whole journey with technical descents and plenty of unfastened gravel. This 12 months the riders tackled the part from a distinct path. In 2019, that is the place Colin Strickland attacked and rode away from WorldTour execs for his win. The leaders held a two-minute hole to chasers, with Morton again within the fold, having missed a flip, and Swenson was now main the chase.
An non-obligatory ‘water oasis’ was subsequent at mile 112 in Alta Vista and as riders rushed previous, averaging 21.6 mph, the breakaway had been absorbed again into the primary group that now numbered 20, Chad Haga main the best way. Zavyalov was barely again additional, 21 seconds again in a bunch of 12.
The rainbow jersey of Mohorič was now nicely off the entrance, a part of a bunch of riders scattered in a unfastened group 14 minutes off the very best tempo with underneath 100 miles to trip, together with Boswell, Terpstra, Thomas Dekker and Michael Garrison.
Across the following dozen miles, a pack of chasers rejoined the entrance, together with Van Avermaet, to make it 31, however no huge transfer from Mohorič who trailed by 16 minutes.
At mile 125, Haga, Morton and Thijs Zonneveld attacked and created separation. Through the second checkpoint at Council Grove with 54 miles to go, Haga and Morton set off with out Zonneveld prolonged their result in 2:15 forward of 21 riders, Sebastian Schönberger on the entrance with Stetina, Swenson, Finsterwald and Van Avermaet.
Not passing by way of Council Grove, however pulling out of the race was Mohorič, who had points with a puncture.
Morton and Haga labored collectively as they headed to the ultimate grime climb, passing a non-public reservoir and dam with 27 miles to go, carrying a 1:55 benefit.
The duo prolonged their result in 2:46 on the quick, flat path homeward certain to Commercial Street in Emporia.
| Position | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lachlan Morton | 09:11:47 |
| 2 | Chad Haga | 00:00:01 |
| 3 | Tobias Kongstad | 00:03:36 |
| 4 | Piotr Havik | 00:03:37 |
| 5 | Mattia De Marchi | 00:03:41 |