Record-Breaking Speeds at the 2025 Life Time UNBOUND Gravel
Migoń and Jones set records in Emporia as Pellaud
and Decker move up the Life Time Grand Prix standings
The 19th edition of the Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano proved to be one of the most competitive in the event’s storied history. Riders from across the globe descended on the challenging Flint Hills terrain in Kansas, battling intense heat, fierce winds, and grueling climbs. With stacked fields in both the elite and XL categories, the 2025 edition didn’t just live up to expectations—it rewrote them entirely, delivering standout performances and resetting course benchmarks in dramatic fashion.
Karolina Migoń Dominates Women’s 200-Mile Race
Polish endurance standout Karolina Migoń etched her name into gravel racing history by averaging a blistering 20.12 miles per hour over the 200-mile course—an unprecedented feat in the women’s category. From the outset, Migoń made her intentions clear, staying at the front of the pack and taking control of the race strategy. After sizing up her competition in the early miles, she launched a decisive solo effort with just under 50 miles remaining, putting in a sustained, high-powered push that the rest of the field couldn’t match. Her finishing time of 10 hours, 3 minutes, and 54 seconds set a new standard for what’s possible in women’s gravel racing.
Decker and Villafañe Round Out Women’s Podium
Chasing Migoń’s wheel was no easy task, but Cecily Decker rose to the occasion with a gutsy and tactical ride. After losing ground in the final stages, she dug deep to maintain her position and crossed the finish line 8 minutes and 35 seconds behind MigoÅ„, securing a well-earned second place. Behind her, SofÃa Gómez Villafañe showed her racing savvy in the closing miles by out-sprinting Rosa Klöser and Cecile Lejeune in a tight three-way finish. That final surge not only placed Villafañe on the podium but also played a pivotal role in tightening the overall Grand Prix standings.
Cameron Jones Sets New Benchmark in Men’s 200-Mile Race
New Zealand’s Cameron Jones delivered the ride of his life, earning both the men’s overall victory and a place in the prestigious Life Time Grand Prix. Racing as a Wild Card entrant, Jones made a daring early breakaway alongside Swiss rider Simon Pellaud around the halfway mark. The pair opened up a substantial lead, working together efficiently through headwinds and technical sections. With just miles to go and sensing fatigue in his breakaway partner, Jones attacked on a final climb, distancing Pellaud and crossing the finish in a record-breaking 8 hours, 37 minutes, and 9 seconds—averaging 23.49mph. The performance not only earned him a Grand Prix spot but also captured the admiration of fans and competitors alike.
Pellaud Holds for Second, Johnston Climbs Grand Prix Rankings
Despite losing touch with Jones in the final stretch, Simon Pellaud held strong to take a well-deserved second place, finishing only 42 seconds behind the leader. The Swiss rider’s all-in racing style made for compelling viewing, and his runner-up result propelled him into a joint second position in the Grand Prix standings. Meanwhile, Australian Brendan Johnston turned in a steady performance, finishing fifth overall and third among Grand Prix contenders. Johnston’s consistency continues to pay off as he climbs up the leaderboard, while reigning series leader Keegan Swenson stayed in control by placing seventh—enough to hold onto the top spot overall.
Race Results
Life Time Grand Prix Standings Tighten After Emporia Battles
The 2025 UNBOUND Gravel created ripple effects across the Life Time Grand Prix rankings. In the women’s division, Cecily Decker’s second-place finish moved her into a tie with SofÃa Gómez Villafañe at the top of the standings. This sets the stage for an intense second half of the Grand Prix season. On the men’s side, the leaderboard is just as close, with Pellaud’s breakout ride putting him on even ground with Johnston. Keegan Swenson remains the man to beat, but with more races ahead, the margins are slim and the competition fierce.
Upcoming Wild Card Selections for Life Time Grand Prix
The Wild Card system has proven to be a game-changer, and seven new athletes will soon be added to the Life Time Grand Prix roster. These riders, selected based on their standout performances and potential include the following seven riders.
Men:
Cameron Jones
Andrew L’Esperance
Skyler Taylor*
Matthew Wilson
Women:
Haley Dumke
Laurel Quinones
Leah Van der Linden
Their points will count toward the series following the conclusion of the Life Time Leadville Trail 100 MTB presented by Kenetik on Saturday, August 9. This new wave of talent, including breakthrough stars like Cameron Jones, promises to keep the leaderboard dynamic and competitive throughout the rest of the season.
XL Race Sees Heather Jackson and Rob Britton Smash Course Records
In the 350-mile UNBOUND XL, Canadian endurance athlete Rob Britton set a new record with a finish time of 17 hours, 49 minutes, and 51 seconds, shaving over two hours off the previous best. Hot on his heels was Lachlan Morton, who trailed by just over 5 minutes. In the women’s category, Heather Jackson delivered a career-best ride, clocking in at 20 hours, 57 minutes, and 57 seconds—smashing the former course record by over 90 minutes. Serena Gordon earned second place with a strong 22:19:56 ride. These performances solidified the XL as a premier event for ultra-distance gravel racers worldwide.
XL Race Results
Athlete Reactions: Raw Emotion from the Front Lines
Karolina Migoń – Women’s 200 Winner
We had a really good group of three and were working really hard together until the second feed zone. When Lauren dropped back I waited for Cecily, but when I saw she was also super-tired, I went on my own and gave everything I had to make it to the finish line. I didn’t know if that was a good idea or not at first, but it turned out well.
This was a field of very strong women and really hard to win, so I didn’t have any expectations going into it, but thankfully I was the strongest.
Cameron Jones – Men’s 200 Winner
I was supposed to play it safe with the chance of getting in the Life Time Grand Prix through the Wild Card competition at stake, but once the race had started, I thought ‘who am I kidding, I’m just going to send it’. I went a bit earlier than I’d planned – it was all strung out coming into Eskridge so I joined the fun and everyone else stopped, so I just kept on going and committed.
I bridged across to the lead group and went through that, and then got a gap with Simon. I was unsure when we went away but he assured me it was a good thing to do, and our gap gradually grew. That was a pretty cool feeling; we kept the morale high and helped each other out, doing even pulls. We both knew we’d stay clear until the end and coming into the finish, I was keen to leave it to a sprint. I rode hard and managed to break the elastic on the final hill coming up to the finish though, and that meant I could savour the roll into town.
I’ve got my family here so it’s incredibly special that they’ve seen me win their first race in the USA. Now I’m in the Life Time Grand Prix, I’d better get myself to altitude and get ready for Leadville.
Cecily Decker – Women’s 200 Runner-Up
I was so wrecked as I messed up at the first feed zone and was completely dehydrated, so it was super-awesome to take second place behind Karolina. She was clearly a lot stronger today. My motivation was just to get to the finish as fast as I could and be done with it, and I’m stoked with the result.
Simon Pellaud – Men’s 200 Runner-Up
It was interesting to find myself out in front and going for the win so early in the race, especially with such a strong wind and powerful field behind. Thankfully there wasn’t much collaboration in the chase. I always like to race from the front and make a show of it for the fans, and I had a lot of fun. I know Cameron a little bit and I enjoyed riding with him. We were fully committed and that’s how a breakaway should always be.
Unfortunately I ran out of sugar in the final as I lost some gels, and that bad luck meant I lost the biggest gravel race in the world, and it could have changed my career. I’m upset because I really felt I could win, but it is what it is. In time I will be happy with this result, and if you’d told me before the race I’d finish in second, I would have taken that.
What’s Next in the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix
With UNBOUND Gravel now in the books, the attention shifts to the high-altitude challenges ahead. Riders will continue to chase points and podiums in upcoming Grand Prix stops, including the much-anticipated Leadville Trail 100 MTB. With new Wild Cards entering the fray and leaderboard positions tightening, the 2025 season promises more fireworks, rivalries, and standout moments.
Photos courtesy Life Time
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