Fort Lewis College graduate Sofia Gomez Villafane had some extra motivation heading into Life Time’s Garmin Unbound Gravel presented by Craft Sportswear on Saturday in Emporia, Kansas.
In December, Villafane read a story that said she had the speed and technical ability to compete, but it called her a “newbie” at Unbound, a race where experience mattered.
Villafane had raced once over 100 miles. She planned to race 200 miles in one day in Kansas, but the article galvanized her to train harder.
“Something about being called a newbie didn’t sit well with me, and there is nothing more than I love more than a good challenge,” Villafane posted on Instagram. “After reading that article, I turned Unbound from a low priority race to one of my main goals of the 2022 season for a shot at the podium.”
Villafane not only made the podium, she reached the top of it after a long solo effort in rainy and muddy conditions. Villafane won the 200-mile race, the event’s best-known distance, in 10 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds. Lauren De Crescenzo finished second in 10:36:47, and Emily Newsome was third spot in 10:57:24.
“Not too shabby in my first year focusing on endurance events,” Villafane said. “This little engine’s natural ability is more than that of a two-stroke 85cc.”
Sarah Sturm also finished in the front of the pack, crossing seventh among 48 pro women in 11:14:50 and holding off Evelyn Dong by seven seconds.
Ellen Campbell, also of Durango, finished 41st in the pro women’s race in 13:32:23.
The pro men’s race came down to a five-man sprint, but Dutch cyclist Ivar Silk managed to finish one second ahead of Keegan Swenson and Ian Boswell to win the race in 9:22:04.
“When I came over (to the United States) Unbound was my big goal for this year,” Silk said. “It’s a long race – 200 miles – and so much can happen. You need a little bit of luck, but I was in top shape and did everything to be in the best condition. It’s super to finish it off in a sprint with five, just amazing, and I’m happy to win the biggest gravel event in the world.”
Payson McElveen, who is recovering from broken bones in his hand and a bout with COVID this season, led the Durango contingent. McElveen crossed ninth in the pro men’s 200-mile race in 9:31:14. He said the race was a bit intimidating after a tumultuous spring, and thanked his family and sponsors for their support.
“Of course I would have loved a higher finish than ninth, but I got done what I needed to: solid seventh place (Life Time Grand Prix) points,” McElveen posted on Instagram.
“The race itself was even crazier than ever. Each year the front gets more aggressive with an increasing number of crashes in the opening 30 miles. I lost count of the times I had to split a rider and their flying bike or shoot for the cornfields to avoid a roadwide pileup. This year though I had zero mechanicals, and although (I) didn’t have the strongest legs, survived my way to the front group.”
Stephan Davoust and Howard Grotts both finished in 11:14:43, with Davoust crossing 80th and Grotts 81st out of the 109 pro entries.
The event had 4,000 riders across all distances as riders took on the relentless Flint Hill gravel. Cyclists ranging in age from 10 to 89 and representing 50 states and 44 countries took on the junior, 25-mile, 50-mile, 100-mile, 200-mile and 350-mile XL distances on a new, southbound course.
- William Harrison (20:17:27) and Cynthia Frazier (22:25:15) won the Unbound XL 350-mile races out of a field of 105 cyclists.
- In the 100-mile race, Ethan Overson (5:01:01) and Marisa Boaz (5:23:16) took the titles.
- Matthew Accarrino (2:30:01) and Megan Deppen (2:34:30) won the 50-mile races.
- Colt Golembeski (1:16:04) and Jamie Plotner (1:30:38) won the 25-mile races.
- Alexis Jaramillo (1:17:24) and Asa Child (1:06:46) crossed first in the junior races.
“This was a fantastic weekend of racing, riding and camaraderie” said Kimo Seymour, president of media and events at Life Time. “After a start with some amazing weather, the rain and mud provided epic conditions. Feedback from athletes has been overwhelmingly positive. From the intensely competitive pro race at the front, to the masses of amateurs, the Life Time team is so pleased to hear all the amazing memories that were created at this year’s Garmin Unbound Gravel.”
