Unbound Gravel XL: Tour Divide record holder Robin Gemperle claims victory in horrible conditions, forced to walk for 21km

Swiss rider Robin Gemperle emerged victorious at the 2026 Unbound Gravel XL, completing the grueling 356-mile (573km) race in just over 21 hours. Despite facing severe weather and challenging terrain, Gemperle finished more than half an hour ahead of his closest rival, Sidhartha Mathai, with Ricardo Morante and Max Agut rounding out the top four. In the women’s category, German cyclist Svenja Betz claimed her second Unbound XL win, finishing over 34 minutes ahead of British rider Maddie Nutt, who had recently triumphed at The Traka Adventure. Gemperle’s race was marked by significant adversity, including illness and difficult conditions that forced him to walk approximately 21 kilometres through deep mud and rain. He admitted to struggling mentally and physically after falling ill around the halfway point, attributing some of his difficulties to poor hydration strategy early in the race. Despite these setbacks, Gemperle’s resilience saw him through to the finish, adding to his reputation as an ultra-endurance specialist following his record-setting performance on the Tour Divide last year. Maddie Nutt reflected on the extreme and varied weather conditions that characterised the event, describing a punishing mix of thunderstorms, hail, wind, and humidity. She noted that the relentless mud and long stretches without feed stations drained her strength, particularly during the extensive hiking sections, which sapped much of her power. Nevertheless, Nutt expressed satisfaction with her performance given the brutal conditions, highlighting the mental and physical toll the race exacted on all competitors. Looking ahead, Gemperle indicated a desire to focus on shorter ultra-endurance events for the remainder of the year, before returning to the longer races where he feels most comfortable. His victory at Unbound XL represents a significant achievement in his career, demonstrating his ability to overcome adversity and master one of the toughest gravel races on the calendar. The challenging nature of the 2026 edition underscores the growing reputation of Unbound Gravel XL as a true test of grit and endurance in the gravel racing scene.