For a pair of former WorldTour stars, gravel racing presents extra questions than solutions. David Millar and Tom Dumoulin, each in Emporia for the 2025 version of Unbound Gravel, arrived not as favourites however as curious adventurers looking for new challenges, new views, and, above all, the easy pleasure of driving.
Millar will journey Unbound Gravel 200, whereas Dumoulin expects to line up for the 100-mile race. For each riders, gravel presents a return to the fundamentals and a break from the hyper-professionalism that they skilled on the WorldTour.
“It feels much more relaxed right here,” mentioned Millar, standing on the Issue Bikes pop-up the day earlier than the race. “In Europe, it might really feel pressured generally—too many individuals transferring their street racing mindset into gravel. Right here, it feels extra inclusive, extra pure.
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“It’s a totally totally different sport [gravel]. I don’t really feel like I’m coming again into my world. I don’t really feel threatened by it. I don’t really feel I’ve something to show, which is gorgeous.”
Dumoulin echoed that sentiment, whilst a recon-ride crash left the previous Giro d’Italia champion with an injured hand and scrapes throughout his knee.
“It’s not about efficiency anymore. It’s nearly me having fun with the bike, like after I was a child,” he mentioned. “That is only for the expertise.”
For Millar, now 48, Unbound isn’t only a race, because it’s a product launch in the actual world. The Issue co-founder and former professional is utilizing the 200-mile race to check the model’s new prototype gravel bike, the Aluto, and he’ll share the “expertise” with Rob Gitelis, the CEO of Issue, who can even be on a prototype bike. The 2 have made a behavior of taking up huge challenges collectively, from final 12 months on the Migration Gravel Race in Kenya to this 12 months at Unbound.
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“It’s genuinely the primary time it’s going out into correct race testing. It’s a stunning all-round race bike,” Millar mentioned. “It’s a chance to do one thing totally different, to push ourselves, and to have enjoyable alongside the best way.”
The Aluto he’ll journey is designed as a race bike that’s able to dealing with the calls for of ‘American gravel’, providing clearance for as much as 50mm tires, shorter chainstays for agility, and fewer aerodynamic focus than Issue’s Ostro Gravel mannequin.
Nonetheless, getting the bike to Kansas wasn’t straightforward. Millar endured a 25-hour journey ordeal, full with missed connections and misplaced baggage. “It was a kind of shitty journeys. Our bike and baggage weren’t right here once we arrived. It’s simply arriving now.
“It’s a bit ridiculous,” he laughed about lining up within the elite males’s subject Saturday for the most important gravel race of the season. “I’m undoubtedly not elite; I’m older and I don’t prepare sufficient. However I figured it could be enjoyable to hold on for a bit, see what it’s like, and get a little bit of a head begin on the chaos.”
He’s underneath no illusions about how lengthy he’ll final: “Possibly two kilometers, perhaps 20, perhaps 50. Who is aware of? Makes no distinction to me.
“I’ve by no means executed American gravel earlier than,” he mentioned. “I feel this Aluto is designed to deal with these huge, excessive occasions, so it’s thrilling to check it right here.”
Doubtful begin already for Dumoulin
Dumoulin’s Unbound 100 expertise hasn’t precisely gone to plan. Throughout a recon journey earlier within the week, the previous Giro star and Olympic silver medalist slid out on unfastened gravel, injuring his hand and bruising his knee. Nonetheless, the 34-year-old remained hopeful he might line up for the 100-mile race.
“I wasn’t feeling nice already that day – felt sick in my abdomen, so I in all probability wasn’t paying sufficient consideration,” he admitted.
“The hand goes to be an issue. I’m undecided if it’ll maintain up for Saturday. For now, I hope I’m nonetheless in a position to journey. In any other case, I’m going to be touring all the best way simply sitting round right here.”
Since stepping away from the WorldTour in 2021, citing burnout and a lack of pleasure, the Dutchman has reconnected with the game otherwise.
“I attempt to remind myself: it’s not about efficiency anymore,” he mentioned. “It’s nearly me having fun with the bike, like I did as a child, earlier than I went skilled.”
Nowadays, Dumoulin rides two or 3 times per week for enjoyable, a far cry from the 30-hour coaching blocks that after outlined his professional profession. He additionally works as a biking commentator for Dutch tv and runs shows and clinics as a Big ambassador. He additionally excursions the Netherlands with a dwell theatre present that unpacks his profession relating the triumphs, the failures and the teachings realized alongside the best way.
“It’s form of enjoyable. It’s a cool story, and perhaps there are classes in it for non-cyclists too,” he mentioned.
Gravel racing, for Dumoulin, is an extension of this curiosity and a chance to expertise the game with out stress.
“This is sort of a World Championship, the unofficial World Championships of gravel, and I’m excited to be a part of it. I need to see how all people approaches it, how they deal with the situations. I prefer to see them stressing out about tyres and all that.”
Dumoulin had hoped to observe the entrance group for so long as doable within the 100-mile occasion, however he’s reasonable about his kind. He mentioned his strategy will probably be one that’s resolutely relaxed.
“I’m not unfit, however I’m undoubtedly not doing 160 kilometers each week anymore,” he mentioned. “It’s nonetheless a great distance. That’s a five-hour journey, perhaps 4 and a half, 5.
“I don’t really feel like I’m racing. It feels extra like I’m doing a gran fondo with 1,000 individuals.”
That mindset marks a stark departure from his WorldTour days.
“I’ve executed many World Championships in street biking, however by no means in gravel. I simply need to see it for myself. It’s not about efficiency anymore. It’s about having fun with the bike, being exterior, like I did earlier than I went professional.”
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