Unbound Gravel 200
The defining gravel race in the world. 206 miles of Flint Hills gravel (the event billed as the 200), June heat and humidity, and long self-supported stretches between sparse checkpoints where the sodium deficit decides your day.
At Unbound Gravel 200, plan 700 to 1000 mg sodium per hour, with salty sweaters at 1000 to 1400 mg across the hot middle of the day. Checkpoints sit up to 60 miles apart, so carry capsules plus drink mix for each full segment and pre-load 1500 to 2000 mg sodium in the 24 hours before the June start.
Unbound 200 Fueling Plan
For a 165 lb athlete finishing Unbound 200 in about 13 hr, plan roughly 55 g of carbs, 800 mg of sodium (1,100 mg for a salty sweater) and 950 ml of fluid per hour. That is about 720 g of carbs and 10,400 mg of sodium across the race.
| Finish time | Carbs | Sodium | Fluid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front of field9 hr 30 min | 65 g/hr620 g total | 850 mg/hrsalty sweater 1,150 mg | 1,000 ml/hr9.5 L total |
| Mid-pack13 hr | 55 g/hr720 g total | 800 mg/hrsalty sweater 1,100 mg | 950 ml/hr12.4 L total |
| Back of pack18 hr | 55 g/hr990 g total | 800 mg/hrsalty sweater 1,100 mg | 950 ml/hr17.1 L total |
Computed by the free sodium and carb calculators for a 165 lb athlete in hot and humid conditions. Fluid is a planning figure for what to carry, not a drinking schedule: on the day, drink to thirst. Your own numbers move with body weight and sweat rate.
Where The Sodium Math Bends
Unbound 200 starts at 1,150 ft, tops out at 1,663 ft at Texaco Hill, high point (mile 61.4) and finishes at 1,155 ft. Cramping tends to cluster on the long climbs and the descents that follow them.
- Mile 0, Start, Emporia, 1,150 ft
- Mile 42.3, Madison, 1,084 ft
- Mile 61.4, Texaco Hill, high point, 1,663 ft
- Mile 68.5, Teterhill Road, 1,615 ft
- Mile 98.9, Matfield Green, 1,306 ft
- Mile 160.7, Council Grove, 1,229 ft
- Mile 191.7, Americus, 1,159 ft
- Mile 206.9, Finish, Emporia, 1,155 ft
| Climb | Miles | Gain | Avg grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mile 16 to 22 rise | 16.1 to 22.1 | 331 ft | 1.0% |
| Texaco Hill, the course high point | 55.8 to 61.4 | 444 ft | 1.5% |
| Teterhill Road | 67.2 to 68.5 | 246 ft | 3.6% |
| Out of Matfield Green | 99.1 to 105.1 | 287 ft | 0.9% |
| Mile 131 to 136 rise | 131.1 to 136 | 253 ft | 1.0% |
What's On Course
Three checkpoints are the only places crews may help, each with limited neutral GU Energy food, water and mechanical help; riders who buy Crew For Hire get a drop bag and a fuller aid table there. Two water-only oases sit between them, so food and sodium for up to 60 miles go with you. Checkpoint cutoffs follow a 10 mph average from the 6:30 AM age-group start, and the finish closes at 3:00 AM.
| Mile | Station | Cutoff | Carry in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Checkpoint 1, MadisonCrew access; limited GU Energy food, water and mechanics | 11:30 AM | 145 g carbs, 2,100 mg sodium2,500 ml fluid over 42 mi |
| 64 | Water oasis, Texaco HillWater only; no crews | 75 g carbs, 1,100 mg sodium1,300 ml fluid over 22 mi | |
| 100.3 | Checkpoint 2, Matfield GreenCrew access; neutral food, water and mechanics | 4:30 PM | 125 g carbs, 1,800 mg sodium2,150 ml fluid over 36.3 mi |
| 160 | Checkpoint 3, Council GroveCrew access; limited GU Energy food, water and mechanics | 11:30 PM | 205 g carbs, 3,000 mg sodium3,550 ml fluid over 59.7 mi |
| 189 | Water oasis, AmericusWater only; no crews | 100 g carbs, 1,450 mg sodium1,750 ml fluid over 29 mi | |
| 206.9 | Finish, Emporia | 3:00 AM Sun | 60 g carbs, 900 mg sodium1,050 ml fluid over 17.9 mi |
Carry in is what a mid-pack average sweater (13 hr finish) uses between the previous station and this one at an even pace. Climbs take longer than their share of the distance, so carry more into a climbing section.
Source: 2026 Unbound Gravel 200 athlete guide and crew guides, 2026
60-92°F · high humidity
Climate
hot + humid
Humidity
high
Cutoff
~21 hours (3:00 AM)
10-yr avg high
84°F
10-yr avg low
65°F
Record high / low
93° / 55°F
Years with rain
60%
The Cumulative Deficit Window
Unbound is the purest sodium-limited event on this list. June in the Flint Hills means heat into the 90s with real humidity, a 10 to 18 hour day in the saddle, and a course where the three checkpoints sit 40 to 60 miles apart. Those long self-supported stretches are exactly where the deficit compounds, because you can only carry so many bottles and the heat drives sweat rates well past what most riders plan for. The terrain is relentless punchy climbing on chunky gravel with no sustained recovery, so effort and sweat stay high. Salty-sweater cramping is the most common reason strong riders fall apart or DNF, and it almost always traces back to under-dosing sodium across a long checkpoint-to-checkpoint segment earlier in the day. Mud years and heat years both raise the stakes: when the pace slows, time on course goes up and total sweat loss climbs with it.
Key Considerations
- Checkpoints sit up to 60 miles apart, with only water at the two oases between them. Carry sodium and food for the whole segment, as capsules plus drink mix per leg.
- June Flint Hills heat and humidity push sweat rates high. Salty sweaters should plan 1000 to 1400 mg sodium per hour across the hot middle of the day.
- Pre-load aggressively. Add 1500 to 2000 mg sodium in the 24 hours before the start to protect plasma volume before the first long self-supported leg.
- Slower mud or heat years mean more hours on course and more total sweat loss. Budget extra sodium and fluid for a finish time longer than your best-case estimate.
Who Finishes, And How Fast
Official 2026 results
Men winner · 2026
Mads Würtz Schmidt
9:14:5122.4 mph
Women winner · 2026
Sofia Gomez Villafane
10:31:3719.7 mph
Free Tools, Pre-Filled For Unbound 200
Tap any tool. We pre-load your event, climate, and sweat profile. Adjust your weight and finish target and the plan generates instantly.
Unbound Pacing Calculator
Turn a target finish into checkpoint splits, cutoff buffers, and a per-hour fueling plan.
Sodium plan
Per-hour sodium and fluid targets for Unbound 200 conditions.
Carb fueling
Hourly carb targets and a fuel menu calibrated to your weight and the Unbound 200 duration.
Heat protocol
10-14 day adaptation plan if you're racing into humidity.
Hydration audit
Weigh-in test that converts a 60-minute training session into a measured sweat rate.
Caffeine timing
Pre-race dose, mid-race top-ups, and race-week taper protocol for Unbound 200 timing.
Dig Into The Science
How to Build the Perfect Sports Drink Powder for Races
Make your own endurance sports drink: carb ratios, sodium targets, osmolarity, and why I add Beetroot Pro to every bottle. Saves $1,800 a year vs Maurten.
Stop Leg Cramps: Supplement Protocol & Risk Calculator
Leg cramps have two causes: electrolyte depletion and neuromuscular fatigue. Score yours with the free calculator, then load the 5 supplements that fix both.
Best Supplements for Energy in Endurance Athletes
The best energy supplements for endurance athletes: dietary nitrate, caffeine, creatine, and beta-alanine. Different mechanisms that combine cleanly.
Your Unbound 200 Plan,
Built From Real Data.
Pro unlocks a per-leg sodium, fluid, and carb schedule keyed to the actual course: Emporia to Madison, Madison to Matfield Green, Matfield Green to Council Grove, and Council Grove to the finish, dosed for each long self-supported segment.
- Your sweat rate, from a weigh-in test or your best estimate
- Per-leg sodium, fluid, and carb schedule keyed to the course profile
- Branded, printable PDF
- Post-race feedback capture so the next plan is sharper
Per race
Every race
Unlimited race plans today. Strava connection and the multi-event calendar are still in development.
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About Unbound 200
How much sodium should I take per hour at Unbound Gravel 200?
For an average rider in typical June heat, 700 to 1000 mg per hour is the working window. Salty sweaters routinely need 1000 to 1400 mg per hour across the hot middle of the day. Because the heat and the distance are both extreme, most riders under-estimate this; use the calculator with your weight and sweat profile to dial it in.
How do I carry enough sodium between checkpoints?
Unbound checkpoints sit 42 to 60 miles apart, which is 3 to 5 hours of riding, with only water at the two oases in between. Plan each segment as a unit: combine electrolyte drink mix in your bottles with sodium capsules so you are not relying on bottle volume alone. Many riders run a fixed capsule schedule (for example one 300 to 400 mg capsule every 45 minutes) on top of their mix.
Does Unbound require pre-race sodium loading?
Yes, more than almost any US race. The combination of a 10 to 18 hour effort, June heat and humidity, and long self-supported stretches makes pre-loading high leverage. Add 1500 to 2000 mg sodium across the 24 hours before the start, weighted toward the night-before dinner and race-morning breakfast.
How long does it take to finish Unbound Gravel 200?
On the 206.9-mile 2026 course, Mads Würtz Schmidt won the men's race in 9:14:51 (22.4 mph) and Sofia Gomez Villafane won the women's race in 10:31:37 (19.7 mph). Elite fields finished in roughly 9 to 14 hours, most age-group finishers take 12 to 16 hours, and the hard cutoff is about 21 hours (3:00 AM). Your sodium and fluid plan should be built for the finish time you realistically expect, because a slower day means more hours sweating in the heat and a larger total deficit.