EMPORIA, 2025-06-20 19:42:00
Britton’s Unbound Triumph: A Gravel Odyssey
Rob Britton’s cycling career hit a new high, winning the Unbound Gravel XL in a record time.
- Rob Britton conquered the Unbound Gravel XL, finishing in 17 hours, 49 minutes, and 51 seconds.
- Britton outpaced Lachlan Morton, a top gravel racer, by over five minutes.
- The race took place in Emporia, Kansas, starting Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. local time.
- Britton’s victory smashed the previous Unbound Gravel XL finish time by 12 minutes.
Factor Bikes gravel racer Rob Britton blazed through the Unbound Gravel XL, a grueling 359-mile race, crossing the finish line with a blistering time of 17 hours, 49 minutes, and 51 seconds. This remarkable feat not only secured him the win but also reset the course record, establishing a new standard for endurance gravel racing.
“Honestly, it was fun,” Britton shared, reflecting on the race two weeks later. The Canadian rider’s performance left 2024 Unbound Gravel 200 winner Lachlan Morton in his wake.
From a mass start at 3 p.m. local time in downtown Emporia, the race saw Morton, Laurens ten Dam, and Britton at the front. As the sun dipped below the horizon, Morton surged ahead, with Britton close behind. Ten Dam linked up with Robin Gemperle.
“Even later in the race, I remember coming up to Lachy and finally catching him and said ‘Yo man, I know we’re going to battle it out, this has been awesome’. This has been such a cool day of racing – a full day and night,” he laughed about the length of the ride.
Britton’s victory wasn’t just about the win; it was about the experience. He reminisced about the camaraderie, the shared passion for pushing limits, and the beauty of the sunset that painted the Kansas sky. He described the experience as “sick.”
What makes Unbound Gravel XL unique?
Unbound Gravel XL is a grueling test of endurance and skill, pushing athletes to their physical and mental limits over vast distances on gravel roads.
A Career in Perspective
Britton recalled his GC win at the 2017 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah as the most significant victory of his 12-year pro road career.
“The biggest [reason] is it was just relief, because I’d been knocking on the door of a really big result for a long time. At a certain point you’re just like, shit, am I ever gonna get this [win]? Am I just gonna be a guy who defines himself with second places and some podium stop bys? I finally got the big one at the race I targeted.”
In 2022, Britton began his off-road racing journey as a privateer. He achieved a Fastest Known Time (FKT) on the British Columbia (BC) Epic 1,000km mountain bike course, riding the length of Vancouver Island in two days, nine hours, and 24 minutes.
The Morton Duel
Britton’s Unbound Gravel XL triumph marks a turning point in his career, with the competition providing some challenges in the spring. At The Traka 360, a flat tire left him in 11th place, making the victory that much sweeter.
Morton, known for his endurance feats, was the favorite. However, it was Britton who emerged victorious, showcasing an incredible display of speed and stamina.
“I hadn’t ridden through the night for a really long time. I was struggling with what felt like a whole swarm of the most like-PTSD memories of so many dramatic nights. But then I actually got into it, and then I was having such a nice battle with Rob,” Morton said after the finish in Emporia.
The rivalry between Britton and Morton dates back over a decade.
“We were just taking turns pulling. We were shattered. I mean, when I was catching, it took forever, an eight-hour chase. I could tell he wasn’t as good as he was earlier, but we were both taking long pulls. I was like, ‘damn, this is nice’. The person you’re racing against, you have so much respect. It just seemed fitting that it would end in a sprint.
What fueled Britton through the nearly 18 hours of racing? Caffeine. He consumed an estimated 800 to 1000 milligrams, a significant amount.
Britton admitted, “I honestly don’t know. It’s unbound. It is still the biggest event in the gravel world, for sure.”
Britton is returning to a full block of racing in North America, beginning with the five-day Oregon Trail Gravel Grinder, June 25-29, and immediately after, the seven-day BC Bike Race, June 30-July 6.
