New Zealander Cameron Jones (Scott-Shimano) powered to victory in the grueling Unbound Gravel 200 race in Emporia, Kansas, breaking away from Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) in the final two miles to cross the finish line in 8 hours, 37 minutes, and 9 seconds.
Pellaud finished just 42 seconds behind Jones, taking second place. The duo had established a significant lead, going clear of the Elite Men's field 50 miles into the demanding 202.4-mile course.
The chase groups behind splintered under the pressure of the distance and the rising heat in the Flint Hills. Mads Würtz-Schmidt (PAS Racing) and Torbjørn Røed eventually found themselves five minutes back, battling for the final podium spot. Røed ultimately secured third place, outsprinting Würtz-Schmidt by a mere two seconds.
Bermuda Olympian Tyler Butterfield completed the challenging course in a time of 10 hours and 23 minutes, finishing 92nd overall. Competing in the Men’s Elite Pro Division, Butterfield was the 63rd finisher in that category.
Just a week after competing on a gravel bike in the Sinclair Packwood Memorial Race on Bermuda Day in Bermuda, Butterfield tackled the 202.5-mile Unbound Gravel distance at an impressive average pace of 19.5 miles per hour. His resilience and endurance were evident in completing this demanding event.
|
