The race the gravel world orbits around, Life Time Unbound Gravel 200 presented by Shimano, is nearly here and the top riders from around the globe and amateurs alike have gathered in Kansas, swelling the population of Emporia to nearly bursting point.
The race, as always, is bound to be unpredictable with so many variables at play in the 202.4 mile (326km) event through the Flint Hills of Kansas – from the weather to the mechanicals, the tactics, the crashes and the vagaries of how the body will perform after such a long day in the saddle.
So much can go wrong and so much has to go right to even be in with a chance of climbing to the top step in Emporia, though the prestige of doing just that keeps some riders coming back year after year while also drawing the strongest of newcomers, lining up to prove their mettle and chase a win that can transform a career.
