This is Vince Needham's web site.
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The world's foremost gravel bike race is
Unbound Gravel, born and raced in the
Flint Hills around
Emporia, Kansas. Originally known as the
Dirty Kanza,
it has grown to international stature and it would be silly not to participate in your own local phenomena! To that end I raced
in the short 25 mile edition (also available in 50, 100, 200 and insane 350 mile "XL" lengths). We rode from Emporia to
Americus and back; I'm very familiar with the paved roads on this northern route and have ridden
through Americus several times. See my ride results on
Garmin,
Strava, or
RWGPS.
Each thumbnail below links to a much larger image of about 3.4 MB in size.
 My promotional photos, coming out of Americus. |

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 It's up-close and personal - I parked behind the Kuat guys. |
 The red bikes and Subarus are faster! |
 Early morning lines for the loos, here behind the VIP tent. |

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 Crowds around the chute, in front of the Granada. |

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 Early morning, before the expo opened. |

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 Tasty breakfast from a local bakery. |

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 The juniors preparing to set off. |

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 Start/finish line in a rare empty moment. |

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 Emporia's local color. |

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 Excitement on the big screen. |

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 The 50 milers delayed start after Rob & Lachlan finished so early! |
 Lachlan Morton's bike, a Cannondale Topstone Carbon. |

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 The elite finishers' area, featuring XL winner Rob Britton. |

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 XL winner Rob Britton and his Factor Ostro Gravel. |

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 Rob and Lachlan recovering, post-XL. |

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 Inside one of the expo storefronts. |

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 Think pink! |

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 My ride, a BMC Twostroke. |

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 Ready to rumble. |

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 The Americus SAG. |

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 Non-pedal-powered alternative fuel vehicle, parked behind me, post-race. |

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 Brilliant advertising! Muc-off cleaning bikes. |

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 The food and expo in full swing, post-race. |

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 Free beer to the finishers! |

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