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TAPER · 2 WEEKS OUT

UNBOUND GRAVEL — 2 WEEKS OUT

Sharpness is banked. Now shed fatigue. Built around the 320km / 2,800m profile of the Unbound in USA.

320 km·2,800 m climbing·12-20 hours·June

THE FOCUS RIGHT NOW

SHED FATIGUE.

Two weeks out you're in taper territory. Fitness plateaus or nudges up — you don't lose meaningful fitness in two weeks, but fatigue disappears fast. Short sharp efforts to keep legs awake. Everything else is volume reduction.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

RACE-PACE OPENERS

60min ride with 3x3min at race pace + 3x1min at VO2. Not training — priming. The efforts remind your legs what fast feels like. Nothing more.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 2 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Rest is the session.

Tuesday

OPENERS (60MIN)

Short sharp race-pace primers.

Wednesday

45MIN Z1

Coffee spin.

Thursday

60MIN Z2 WITH 2X5MIN AT THRESHOLD

Final sharpening effort.

Friday

REST

Full rest.

Saturday

90MIN Z2 WITH OPENERS

Short, easy, prep the pre-event day.

Sunday

60MIN Z1 OR REST

Total reset.

DON'T DO THIS

The taper-anxiety mistake: riding harder in taper because your legs feel fresh. Fresh legs aren't a problem — they're the whole point. Hold the line.

EVENT INTEL

WHAT THE UNBOUND ACTUALLY DEMANDS

Unbound Gravel is the world's biggest gravel event — 320km (200mi) across the Flint Hills of Kansas on rocky unpaved roads. Lottery entry, professional field mixed with amateurs, 100mi + 50mi options. Mud years and dust years both exist.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

  • ✓320km (200mi) flagship + 100mi + 50mi options
  • ✓Flint Hills rocks destroy tyres, wheels, and souls
  • ✓Mud years (historic): bike-carrying, abandonments, DNFs at 50%
  • ✓Kansas heat: 25-35°C with no shade
  • ✓Self-navigated (GPS) after the first 20km

COMMON MISTAKES

  • ✕Running tyres under 40mm — Unbound shreds light tyres
  • ✕Trying to ride from a sportive background without ultra pacing
  • ✕Underfueling because 'it's just bikes, not running' — 12-20 hours is ultra territory

PACING

Unbound is an ultra with a drop bag. Pace at 55-60% of your 4-hour FTP as a realistic all-day ceiling. The rocks force constant micro-adjustments; you don't hold steady power like on road. Drop bag at checkpoints 2 and 3 — strategise what's in each bag before the start.

FUELLING

80-100g carbs/hour for 12+ hours. Aid stations are official but crowded — own supply between them is faster. Heat means electrolytes dominate. Solid food at checkpoints, gels + bars between. Texan rule: if you're not peeing every 2 hours you're underfuelling.

KIT

Gravel bike with 42-45mm tyres, reinforced sidewalls (Panaracer GravelKing SK+, Challenge Gravine Race, Rene Herse Stampede Pass). Tubeless mandatory. 2-3 tyre plugs + CO2 + spare tube. Mudguards optional (but essential in mud years). Hydration pack optional but helps in heat.

WANT THIS BUILT AROUND YOUR FTP?

COACHED FOR YOUR EVENT.

Not Done Yet is the coached five-pillar system built around your actual event date. Personalised TrainingPeaks plan, weekly calls, expert masterclasses. 7-day free trial.

Apply for Not Done YetHow Coaching Works

$195/month · 7-day free trial · Cancel anytime

FAQ

COMMON QUESTIONS AT 2 WEEKS OUT

Is 2 weeks enough to train for the Unbound Gravel?+

2 weeks out your training can't meaningfully change your fitness — you're in taper. Focus on recovery, hydration, familiarisation with your kit + fuelling, and event-day logistics. Don't try to add fitness this close to the event.

What's the hardest part of the Unbound Gravel?+

320km (200mi) flagship + 100mi + 50mi options. running tyres under 40mm — Unbound shreds light tyres — so pacing discipline is the single biggest lever most amateurs miss. Unbound is an ultra with a drop bag.

How many hours a week should I train at 2 weeks out from the Unbound Gravel?+

Drop to 6-8 hours with minimal intensity. The taper protects the fitness you've built rather than growing more. Short, sharp openers to keep legs awake. Nothing aerobically challenging.

Do I need a coach to train for the Unbound Gravel?+

You don't need a coach to finish. You do need structure. If you're new to sportives, have a target finish time, have a plateau you can't break, or have a history of peaking wrong, a coached plan pays for itself. Inside Not Done Yet the plan is built backwards from your event date — base, build, peak, taper timed to the week the Unbound Gravel runs. 7-day free trial, $195/mo.

What gearing should I run for the Unbound Gravel?+

Gravel bike with 42-45mm tyres, reinforced sidewalls (Panaracer GravelKing SK+, Challenge Gravine Race, Rene Herse Stampede Pass). Tubeless mandatory. 2-3 tyre plugs + CO2 + spare tube. Mudguards optional (but essential in mud years). Hydration pack optional but helps in heat.

OTHER PHASES FOR THE UNBOUND

Earlier phase ← 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE

Later phase → 1 weeks out

RACE WEEK