Unbound Gravel has quickly become a hotbed of new and unreleased tech, perhaps more so this year than any other. We got the chance to check out the show, meet the pros, and get a brief glimpse of the latest unreleased and new gear from Unbound that the pros have. We also dug into their setups prior to the race to learn about strategy, tire choice, and more.
This video includes an unreleased Pinarello under Axelle Dubau-Prévôt and another unreleased Orbea gravel bike under Pas Racing’s Morgan Aguirre. Lachlan Morton has a set of prototype bags from Tailfin.
Russell Finsterwald has a new Trek Project One colorway, while Zach Calton has the new Ventum GS1. And Mattia De Marchi? He also has what appears to be a prototype Campagnolo groupset and prototype Pirelli tires.
Russell Finsterwald’s Trek Checkpoint isn’t a new bike, but the colorway certainly is, a limited-edition run to commemorate Unbound 200. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Finsterwald chose Trek’s gravel bike with bigger tire clearance and an ability to confidently run a suspension fork. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Finsterwald is set to use the one-piece handlebar and stem used more commonly on the Checkmate and Madone. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)The Checkpoint logo is hidden under the marbled paint. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Finsterwald is set to use a 48t chainring and no chain catcher. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)The third bottle cage with the Silca Boa strap helps keep it in place when the going gets bumpy. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Bontrager Kovee MTB ultralight wheels pair neatly with the Continental Dubnital. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
Mattia De Marchi: A prototype Campangolo drivetrain and unreleased tires
Lachlan is using a Cannondale Topstone for the Unbound XL, and he’s done it in his classic style: simple, but so clearly left of field. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Vision’s 4D Flat MAS Kit bolts neatly onto its own aero road bars, giving Lachlan completely different riding position. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)The key here, however, is the water hose, which comes from a saddle bag to come. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Up front is a prototype front bag from Tailfin that adds the ability to carry gear without detracting from the bike’s aero efficiency. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Morton set his bike up here with a 50 mm Vittoria Mezcal tire out back and a Muc-Off core-free pair of tubeless valves. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Up front, however, is a 2.25-inch wide Vittoria Mezcal. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Morton will continue to use 172.5 mm cranks. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
The important component here comes from the rear saddle bag, another prototype from Tailfin. The saddle bag is propped up by Tailfin’s rear rack, featuring a Muc-Off tubeless tire plug slot on each side. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
48/31T cranks and an 11-34t chainring complete the build. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
Axelle Dubau-Prevot: Pinarello gravel bike
Axelle Dubau-Prévot took to the Unbound Gravel 200 aboard an unbranded (and very likely all-new Pinarello gravel bike. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Dubau-Prévot took to a fairly standard build, but the seat stays are obviously much lower than the existing Grevil F. Further, it features far more protection on the down tube, a trio of mounts along the fork legs, and an obviously toned-down seat post. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)This unreleased Pinarello also gets a one-piece carbon cockpit, though this looks fairly similar to the Most Talon handlebar on the Pinarello X9. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Another key difference between this bike and the existing Grevil appears to be the downtube storage hatch, as well as the black bolt found atop. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Axelle’s name is sadly covered by the electrical tape there to maintain her seat post height measurement. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)Another look at those seat stays, which look far lower than before. (Photo: Alvin Holbrook/Velo)
