Unbound Gravel: Migoń and Jones win, Wild Cards decided!
- James Ion
- Jun 3
- 3 min read
Words by James Ion - Photography courtesy of Life Time Grand Prix
Migoń and Jones shine in the Flint Hills as Wild Cards confirmed and XL times tumble
Emporia, Kansas, May 31, 2025: The 19th edition of Life Time UNBOUND Gravel presented by Shimano delivered a defining day in the Flint Hills. The elite 200-mile races saw Karolina Migoń and Cameron Jones rise above stacked fields, while the 350-mile XL shattered previous records. With the dust settling, the Life Time Grand Prix standings tightened, and the Wild Card roster was officially announced, setting the stage for a fierce second half of the season.
MIGOŃ RIDES AWAY
Karolina Migoń proved strongest in a breakaway that formed early with Cecily Decker and Lauren Stephens. “We had a really good group of three and were working really hard together until the second feed zone,” Migoń said. “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.”
That solo effort carried her to the line in 10:03:54, over eight minutes clear of Decker. “This was a field of very strong women and really hard to win,” she said, “so I didn’t have any expectations going into it, but thankfully I was the strongest.”
The result means Decker now draws level on points with Sofía Gómez Villafañe at the top of the Grand Prix standings, with Villafañe sprinting to third in Emporia ahead of 2024 winner Rosa Klöser and Cecile Lejeune.
JONES SENDS IT AND STAYS CLEAR
Cameron Jones wasn’t supposed to go all in, but racing had other ideas. “Once the race had started, I thought ‘who am I kidding, I’m just going to send it,’” he said. After bridging to the front, he joined Simon Pellaud, and together, the duo created an unstoppable move. “We kept the morale high and helped each other out, doing even pulls,” said Jones. “We both knew we’d stay clear until the end.”
On the final climb, Jones launched one last attack. “I rode hard and managed to break the elastic on the final hill,” he said. He rolled into Emporia solo in 8:37:09, claiming a course record and earning a full-time spot in the Grand Prix.
Pellaud, second on the day, now sits joint second overall in the men’s standings with Brendan Johnston, who finished fifth in the race and third among Grand Prix athletes. Keegan Swenson remains the overall leader, finishing as the fourth-fastest Grand Prix rider in seventh place.
WILD CARDS CONFIRMED
Life Time has now confirmed the seven Wild Card riders who have earned their place in the Grand Prix. Athletes had to compete at both the Sea Otter Classic and UNBOUND Gravel, with results across both races used to determine eligibility.
Men:
Cameron Jones
Andrew L’Esperance
Skyler Taylor
Matthew Wilson
Women:
Haley Dumke
Laurel Quinones
Leah Van der Linden
Originally, six places were up for grabs, but with Howard Grotts withdrawing from the series due to ongoing recovery from injury, a seventh slot was added. Petr Vakoč also declined his qualifying place, passing the opportunity on to the next eligible rider.
Wild Card riders will be added to the official Grand Prix leaderboard after the Leadville Trail 100 MTB, which takes place on August 9.
BRITTON AND JACKSON SMASH XL
The UNBOUND XL, a 350-mile ultra-endurance test, saw record times fall. Rob Britton crossed the line in 17:49:51, more than two hours faster than Sebastian Breuer’s 2024 time, and just 5 minutes ahead of Lachlan Morton.
Heather Jackson delivered a dominant ride in the women’s field, winning in 20:57:57 and setting a new course best by over an hour and a half, with Serena Gordon finishing second.
With new names added to the leaderboard and elite performances across the board, UNBOUND 2025 has reshaped the Grand Prix narrative. The road now climbs toward Leadville, where altitude, fatigue and ambition will collide once more.
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