Dodging lightning, 5 hours of hiking, and a trip to hospital – Maddy Nutt recounts 3 key mistakes and plenty more stories from her 'absolute adventure' at Unbound XL

Maddy Nutt delivered a remarkable performance at the 2026 Unbound Gravel XL, finishing second after more than 27 hours of racing in challenging conditions. Having stepped up from the standard Unbound Gravel 200 to the much longer XL event, Nutt led for a significant portion of the race before ultimately being overtaken by two-time winner Svenja Betz. Despite the grueling nature of the race, which included extreme mud and long stretches of hiking, Nutt described the experience as an “absolute adventure,” highlighting the intense pace and physical demands from the outset. The race dynamics were notably influenced by the presence of both men and women starting together, with drafting permitted, unlike in some other ultra-distance events. Nutt explained that this mixed start created a fast and aggressive opening, with riders pushing hard in the early stages, often at the expense of conserving energy for the long haul. She found herself isolated for large parts of the race, which compounded the difficulty, as drafting opportunities were limited and the relentless pace took its toll on the competitors. Nutt identified three key mistakes that contributed to her slipping from first place during the muddy sections of the course. Firstly, she wore stiff carbon race shoes, which were unsuitable for the extensive hiking required and caused significant discomfort and damage to her heels. Secondly, she chose wider tyres on race day for greater puncture resistance but later discovered a hidden puncture from a reconnaissance ride, which affected her performance. Lastly, the mud was far deeper and more treacherous than anticipated, forcing her to carry her bike for several hours, an effort that proved exhausting and difficult. Reflecting on the race, Nutt acknowledged the harsh lessons learned but remained positive about the experience and her future in ultra-distance gravel racing. Her resilience and determination in the face of adversity were evident, even as she recovered from the physical and mental strain of the event. Looking ahead, Nutt hinted at plans to continue pushing her limits in similar races, armed with the knowledge gained from this demanding outing at Unbound XL.