Unbound Gravel

Gravel racers have become the entrepreneurs of American cycling, pushing the sponsorship model in strange new directions.

TJ Eisenhart has left road cycling behind to launch his own gravel program called Imaginary Collective. The program boasts an innovative sponsorship model that bucks the trend commonly found in road cycling teams.

A decade ago gravel racing was an oddity for cycling's hardest core riders. Today, it's a movement for the masses.

American Quinn Simmons has big ambitions for his WorldTour debut, including starts in Paris-Roubaix, Strade Bianche, and gravel racing's biggest event, the Dirty Kanza 200.

Alex Howes joins us for the final VeloNews Podcast of 2019 to talk Dirty Kanza, USPro, and his ambitions for next season.

What's the best tire for the course? What should gravel racing be in length and format? And what causes this gravel madness, anyhow? We will be digging into all this and more in The Grind.

Life Time has acquired the Crusher in the Tushar, adding another marquee gravel event to its lineup of off-road cycling races.

This week's podcast features contributor Betsy Welch, who covered the Dirty Kanza, Epic Rides and other off-road events this year. Welch discusses why these events are helping bring women into cycling.

We discuss Peter Stetina's decision to race gravel instead of WorldTour road; plus, writer Patrick Redford talks about covering cycling for Deadspin.

The boom in gravel racing makes it a strong alternative to a career in the WorldTour thanks to increased sponsor interest and rapid expansion in events.

WorldTour pro Peter Stetina will walk away from WorldTour road racing to launch a career in gravel racing and ultra-endurance mountain biking. "This is not a retirement," Stetina says.

A victory at the Belgian Waffle Ride and strong showings at other off-road adventure races helped Stetina rekindle love for the bike

What compels a mainstream sports columnist to write about pro cycling? We ask Jason Gay of The Wall Street Journal

The 200-mile race is making efforts to attract women to ultra-distance cycling. Our columnist reflected on the female experience at the Dirty Kanza

In the Flint Hills of Kansas, the tribe that rides Dirty Kanza 200 epitomizes the generosity of gravel.

The new Allied Able was ridden to victory by both Colin Strickland and Amity Rockwell at Dirty Kanza 200

Dirty Kanza winner Colin Strickland talks about his race; Spencer recounts his Dirty Kanza; the Giro's chaotic final week

Two elite racers, from disparate backgrounds in cycling, battled each other for 200 hot, windswept miles on the Kansas plains.

Dirty Kanza's female champion loves "crazy long adventure" training rides in Northern California

The non-traditional racing calendars of WorldTour teams brings riders closer to fans, however they also create potential pitfalls on social media

The 2019 Dirty Kanza featured hot temperatures, sunshine, and a compelling battle in both the men's and women's races. VeloNews photo director Brad Kaminski was in Emporia this year to capture all of the action from the weekend.

Amity Rockwell wins women's Dirty Kanza 200 after making a late charge to overtake Alison Tetrick

What's the buzz at this year's Dirty Kanza? Tire choice and weather conditions surpass pro participation and corporate ownership

VeloNews is on the ground in Emporia, Kansas for the 2019 Dirty Kanza. Here's what we saw in the pre-race expo

In 2011, then VeloNews tech editor Nick Legan completed Dirty Kanza 200. The ride marked the sixth running of the race, and VeloNews's first—but not last—time getting dirty in Kansas.

The pro mountain biker talks with VeloNews about race strategy, how WorldTour riders might change the race dynamic, and the all-important question of aero bars.

Gravel cycling is having a big year in 2019, with corporate buyouts, big paydays, and even interest from WorldTour pro riders

The Giro d'Italia roars into its final week with plenty of action. Plus, we talk Dirty Kanza with gravel racer Colin Strickland

The WorldTour riders attending Dirty Kanza 200 do intend to race for the win. Whether or not they can win is another story

Alison Tetrick holds the Dirty Kanza course record, and there's a good chance it could stand for another year. Here's what she's doing to prepare for the 2019 race.

How will professional road racers shake up this year's Dirty Kanza 200? Reigning champion Ted King is eager to find out

Check out Dan Cavallari's author page.

Dirty Kanza organizers say the 2019 course is maybe the best yet. The expo will also double in size. Life Time is taking a cautious approach to growth, however.

Dirty Kanza has found ways to boost female participation far beyond what most conventional bike races see. Kristi Mohn explains how.

To balance life and training, this rider uses SOLOS Smart Glasses to get the most out of each workout.

Riders from the EF Education First WorldTour team will race Dirty Kanza, Leadville 100, Three Peaks, and Taiwan KOM Challenge in 2019.

Since EF announced its partnership with Rapha, we've all been wondering how WorldTour pros will fare in "alternative" races.

Dirty Kanza organizer says the sale will secure the future of the iconic gravel race and help support the community of Emporia, Kansas.

Check out Spencer Powlison's author page.

Chris Case swore he'd never race Dirty Kanza again. He was lying. And the second time around wasn't much easier.

Riders share stories of how they got through the brutal, 206-mile Dirty Kanza.

Is Dirty Kanza "cycling's answer to Ironman?" Fred Dreier and Chris Case were out in Eastern Kansas this past weekend to find out.

We got dirty last weekend in Kansas at the famous Dirty Kanza 200 gravel race!

Salsa Cycles decided to add a bit of cushy comfort to Dirty Kanza with a red velour chaise lounge. The photos were amazing.

Thousands of riders take on the challenge of a 206-mile gravel race through the Flint Hills of Kansas.

Ted King and Kaitlin Keough won the Dirty Kanza 200 gravel race on Saturday in Emporia, Kansas.

Team Panaracer/Stan's No Tubes employs road cycling tactics at gravel events. Not everyone is happy about it.

Photo gallery of Jamie Driscoll's new Donnelly G/S at the Dirty Kanza 200.

The Dirty Kanza 200 gravel race attracts a wide range of riders and bikes. We're on the ground in Emporia to capture the magic.

Former Dirty Kanza winner Yuri Hauswald is going big this year on the 350-mile DK XL route. Here's a look at his bike for the race.

Check out Chris Case's author page.

For the inaugural edition of DK XL, a 350-mile gravel adventure, Rebecca Rusch has a tricked-out Niner RLT 9 RDO.

If 206 miles of Kansas gravel isn't enough, Dirty Kanza is running a new 350-mile race this weekend. Here's what to expect.

Defending Dirty Kanza champion Mat Stephens says aero bars were key to his 2017 win, and he's not giving them up anytime soon.

Geoff Kabush says you’re an idiot if you are running aero bars at Dirty Kanza, and he's here to explain why.

Chris Case outlines what you should bring to a grueling gravel race such as the 200-mile Dirty Kanza.

The second installment in a series detailing Chris Case's nutrition strategy for Dirty Kanza 200.

Welcome to The Dirt, the weekly news round-up on what is happening in the worlds of gravel, mountain biking.

Can Chris Case's physical and biological mechanics adapt to the rigors of going long — like 13+ hours long?

In this excerpt from the new book, "Gravel Cycling," Nick Legan has the beta on Dirty Kanza, one of the biggest gravel races in the world.

Hauswald draws on inspiration from two close family members and their battles with illness to win perhaps the toughest Dirty Kanza 200 yet

When alone and beaten down by the wind and the Flint Hills, a constant stream of calculations keeps a rider moving toward 205 miles

Nick Legan will toe the line at Dirty Kanza 200 this Saturday: Here's a look at the bike he's put together for the grueling race

A look at the Salsa Vaya Ti that Nick Legan used for the 200-mile Dirty Kanza race. UPDATED with Kanza video.

Nick Legan prepares himself, and a special bike, for a 200-mile gravel road race