It's Gravel Week at Cyclingnews

Gravel racing is now well established beyond all reasonable doubt, and this week is the buildup to the biggest gravel race on the calendar: Unbound Gravel 2025. As such, we have designated this week as 'gravel week' here at Cyclingnews, and will be giving priority to race and tech stories from the off-road world.

We've already spotted and covered several new bikes, as well as componentry, in the run-up to the race. Including what looks like a new Campagnolo gravel groupset and a new Factor gravel bike, the details of which are down below. 

Anyone who tuned into our coverage of Unbound last year will have noticed that a once-small gravel race in a sleepy town in Kansas now attracts thousands of entrants. It's the same picture across all events, with the UK's Dirty Reiver being a fast sellout every year, The Traka attracting thousands of pros and amateurs alike to ride the hills around Girona, and the Lifetime Grand Prix series in the USA enticing pros from both road and mountain biking to switch up their profession.

Unbound will undoubtedly take a lot of the airtime, especially as this year there is a full, free livestream of the entire event. As it is a few days away, and I imagine you need an amuse-bouche, why not peruse our massive Traka tech gallery, from a race that is already being described as the Unbound of Europe. 

This past weekend saw pro riders tackle Gravel Locos, a key tune-up event before Unbound. Karolina Migon, who also won The Traka 360, took the win in the Texas heat, likely making her the odds-on favourite in Kansas. Sadly, while some riders were making their final preparations, Dylan Johnson was sidelined after being hit by a driver while on a training ride. 

The 200-mile edition of Unbound is the blue-riband event, not just of Unbound but of gravel racing as a whole, but recently we are seeing greater prominence of even longer events. The Traka, for example, runs at 360km (223 miles) or 560km (347 miles) for the adventure distance. Likewise, Unbound now has Unbound Gravel XL, which runs for 350 miles. It was something of a sideshow to the main event in recent years, but with last year's Unbound 200 winner, Lachlan Morton, lining up for Unbound XL, as well as former pros like Laurens ten Dam, it's sure to make a few more headlines than usual. 

We will keep this page updated with all the latest gravelly news from the week, so be sure to check back in. It's looking like this year's event could see a return of the infamous 'peanut butter mud', which may produce all kinds of interesting tech hacks and tricks!

The stories

'You have to be ready for anything' – Mattia de Marchi on racing Unbound 2025

We spoke with Italian gravel pro de Marchi on his hopes for Unbound 2025.

Unreleased Factor gravel bike - We spotted an intresting new Factor bike with a front suspension fork and heavily dropped seatstays at Unbound.

Campagnolo leak as 13-speed wireless gravel groupset - Mattia de Marchi's Unbound bike looks to have some unusual Campag equipment fitted that we haven't seen before, and it's wireless! 

Schwalbe G-One Allround review - A tried and tested all rounder 

The G One Allround's simple yet effective tread makes it excellent on road or on tamer gravel

Vittoria Mezcal endurance gravel tyre review - A fantastic grippy, all-arounder

The Mezcal is one of our go-to gravel tyres for year-round use 

Best gravel shoes - The best options for whatever gravel means to you

The best gravel shoes out there, from race options to hike-a-bike adventure shoes

The Traka mega tech gallery - Over 100 images from the biggest gravel race in Europe

We trawled the pits in Girona to bring you a tonne of images, from both pros and amateurs alike. 

Karolina Migoń and Ramon Sinkeldam win Gravel Locos 110, making mark ahead of Unbound

While the distance doesn't match that of Unbound, Migon especially marks herself out as favourite. 

No flying under the radar anymore for Traka 360 winner Tobias Kongstad

While he is still technically an amateur, the Dane has an impressive palmares, and will be marked out as a key rider at Unbound. 

Best gravel tyres - Fast and grippy options for all conditions

Whatever gravel riding means to you we've got the tyre sets that'll stand you in good stead. 

Dylan Johnson out of Unbound Gravel with broken tibia after being hit by driver of a truck while training

Sadly the season will need resetting for the YouTube star.

Free live stream of Unbound Gravel 200 to unfold for first time in 2025

While road cycling gets ever-more expensive and inaccessible, gravel at least seems to be improving. 

UCI Gravel World Series calendar 2025

Life Time Grand Prix Series 2025 schedule