The trail to Kansas for Unbound Gravel goes by Texas. That is the “gown rehearsal” at the least for lots of the elite riders, particularly Laurens ten Dam. The general winner of the inaugural operating of Gravel Locos in 2021, the Dutchman will hit the repeat button for a fifth journey to Hico, Texas on Saturday.
As soon as he will get to Emporia subsequent week, nevertheless, his roadmap appears to be like loads totally different. Ten Dam will compete within the Unbound XL occasion, 350 miles, for the primary time, lining up with Unbound 200 rival Lachlan Morton.
“I’ve raced Unbound 200 4 instances, I’ve raced the Tour de France, I race 200k races loads. However now I race the longer races to expertise my limits,” Ten Dam instructed Cyclingnews on his drive from the Dallas airport to Hico earlier this week.
“To be trustworthy, I am 44, get to 45 this yr. I might simply love to do adventurous issues. So it is not a alternative when it comes to efficiency, as a result of efficiency for Unbound XL would have been higher to do the Traka shorter model as a result of I used to be drained for one week after that [Traka 560]. I’ve accomplished the Traka at 200 [kilometres] just a few instances already. However I made a decision I wished to only see the Pyrenees by evening. In order that was fairly cool.”
Ten Dam did end the 560-kilometre Traka Journey on the finish of April, participated in Race Round Rwanda however has reeled again his time on the entrance of the peloton in one-day off-road races.
“I am additionally the coach of the ladies’s Dutch nationwide staff. I’ve just a little bit extra deal with the corporate, Dwell Gradual Trip Quick which is rising, and the youngsters, they’re getting older and so they have extra stuff to do, so there’s much less time to coach. So for me it is about shifting to journey. You understand, I did Tour Divide final yr, I did Race Round Rwanda this yr, additionally Traka 560. So within the time I’ve, I attempt to do adventurous rides now.”
Ten dam has a second place and a pair of fourth place finishes at Unbound Gravel 200. Final yr he and fellow Dutchman Thomas Dekker made an unplanned journey to a Marietta, Kansas jail the evening earlier than the race begin, which depleted their vitality for the 200-mile journey. Each have been arrested for ‘inappropriate behaviour in public areas’ once they stripped themselves of soiled clothes subsequent to their motorized vehicle to scrub off and be presentable at a neighborhood restaurant.
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Hours later after processing within the jail, the 2 paid bail prices and have been launched. With out the complete dinner and relaxation they’d deliberate, Dekker completed forty second and Ten Dam fiftieth at Unbound 200.
So for the change to the long-distance XL this yr, Ten Dam has not spent loads of time researching the course, admitting “the factor with the 350, I do not know if it is simply one other 150 miles extra of Flint Hills, or if I simply go additional. Really I’ve no clue.”
Whereas Morton edged Ten Dam for a podium spot on the 2023 200-miler, the Dutchman didn’t count on a bunch dash for the longer distance. “I want to comply with him, particularly when it is 350. We’ll see what occurs.”
Texas Hill Nation
Gravel Locos has grow to be the go-to heat up for Unbound for a lot of Europeans, as they’ve an opportunity to regulate to the central time zone, the chunky rocks, intense elevation modifications in addition to scorching and humid climate. Whereas Unbound shouldn’t be anticipated to be scorching scorching, Texas is, with temperatures reaching 35°C (95° Fahrenheit).
Among the many ‘Dutch Mafia’ riders becoming a member of Ten Dam within the US for the Texas-Kansas doubleheader embrace 2023 Unbound Gravel 200 winner Ivar Slik, Jasper Ockeloen, Niki Terpstra and Ramon Sinkeldam. The Texas race, GL for brief, is usually a good excuse for relaxed time with different cyclists, and race founder Fabian Serralta.
“It is good for the European guys. It is just one week earlier than [Unbound], and the race is just a little shorter this yr, which implies there’s time to get well. It is a gown rehearsal right here. It is a check for the physique, the thoughts, the fabric,” Ten Dam mentioned.
“I all the time ensure my journeys are good, after which when you have a flat tyre and one thing dangerous occurs, the yr after you continue to need to return since you went to a Rangers [baseball] recreation, for instance. There is a dinner for the Dutch Mafia with him [Thursday], additionally a dinner with all of the racers coming, a Friday morning journey with everybody on a mild tempo. We’ve enjoyable Saturday evening with burgers with the individuals who arrive just a few hours later [after pros finish]. What Fabian [Serralta] created is nice.
Saturday’s Texas Hill nation 118-mile race, decreased from 157 miles final yr, may also be a cease for Ted King, Emily Newsom, Brennan Wertz, Adam Roberge, Mattia de Marchi and a gaggle of PAS Racing riders together with Morgan Aguirre, Karolina Migoń, Mads Würtz Schmidt and Tobias Kongstad final yr’s third-placed Unbound 200.
“The route this yr is shorter as a result of we’re just one week away from Unbound. Though the GL110 is shorter, the elevation achieve is similar to that of the GL150. All the massive climbs are nonetheless a part of it, the entire water crossings are included, 5 help stations, SAG assist and on route bike mechanics,” race founder Serralta instructed Cyclingnews.
“This yr I gave free registration to ladies within the month of February. We gave out roughly 150 free registration to ladies. I additionally gave roughly 50 free registrations to folks experiencing financial hardships and stored their names personal. We additionally gave out 20-25 free registrations to juniors this yr.
“There isn’t any prize purse. The professionals have been very supportive of my resolution to as a substitute give these funds to Hico. My aim from day one nonetheless stays.”
Serralta mentioned his largest reward for beginning the race 5 years in the past has been the cash raised, roughly $300,000 thus far, for the Hico Volunteer Fireplace Division and for the Metropolis of Hico. He does a lot of the work himself with the assistance of two mates, Robert Parker and Eric Mulcahy, to economize on employees. They make the trophies, deal with social media, prepare dinner the meals, his favorite being the new canines and serving Cuban espresso at relaxation cease quantity 5.
Ten Dam was wanting ahead to relaxed time, and just a little racing, in Texas.
“So it is lengthy days within the saddle we encounter right here. So for us it is like we have now to clean up the reminiscence of the Flint Hills, or the stones in Texas, for a protracted, lengthy day. And a few new opponents in fact. Not loads of US guys go to Europe to coach or to race, proper?
“I believe they go [to Gravel Locos] to get pleasure from these items. After which from Monday, the main target shall be on Unbound.”
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