Unbound 200
Hello everyone,
Unbound 200 always delivers a unique story, and this year’s muddy edition was no exception.
While it was far from the clean race I had hoped for, I am proud of the resilience I showed to get the best out of a very challenging day.
The Race
Physically, the legs were where they needed to be. I managed to ride through all the sticky mud sections without putting a single foot on the ground. My nutrition strategy was executed to perfection thanks to my feed zone crew, allowing me to sustain a massive and steady energy intake throughout the entire day.
To give you an idea of the extreme physical demand, here are the numbers behind the effort:
•Time & Distance: 10 hours and 3 minutes to cover 339 km (2950m D+)
•Power Output: 283 W average / 313 W Normalized Power
•Energy Expenditure: 10,243 kJ burned
•Fueling: 6,000 kcal and 10 liters of liquid consumed in race (1,500 grams of carbs = 150g per hour)
Unfortunately, the race threw several hurdles my way. I lost my chain twice in the heavy mud, which dropped me from the reduced front group. Let’s add a small crash and a stubborn leaking tire that forced me to stop five times. Thankfully, my Silca micro inflator proved incredibly efficient to keep me going, but these stops meant I spent way too much of the day chasing a train that was impossible to catch. I even pushed through the last 3 kilometers riding entirely on my tire insert.
Despite the mud and the mechanical bad luck, I kept fighting to the very end to cross the line P15 overall, securing a crucial 7th place among the Life Time Grand Prix riders. This result keeps me right in the mix for the championship. I am currently tied for 7th on the overall leaderboard with Cam Jones, sitting 16 points away from the first place. Every point counts, and salvaging this result on such a chaotic day is a good thing.
What’s next?
The calendar does not slow down. Next up is a quick switch of disciplines and continents as I head to South Korea for some fast paced road racing. It will be a completely different effort after the mud of Kansas, but I am looking forward to the high speed peloton dynamic.
After Asia, I will head back home to Switzerland. I will be lining up for the Raid Evolenard, which serves as the Swiss Marathon MTB Championship. It is always a proud moment to race for a national title on home soil, especially right in our Valais Alps.
