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BUILD PHASE · 8 WEEKS OUT

UNBOUND GRAVEL — 8 WEEKS OUT

Structured intensity enters. Threshold + VO2 max work. 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

BUILD THE INTENSITY.

Eight weeks out, the build phase kicks in. One threshold session, one VO2 max session, and the long ride all in a week. Volume stays high, but now intensity layers on top. This is where your FTP should start climbing — if it doesn't, distribution is wrong, not effort.

THIS WEEK'S ANCHOR SESSION

2X20MIN THRESHOLD

Warm up 15min. 2x20min at 91-105% FTP with 5min recovery between. Cool down. Hit the target power both reps — if you fade the second, you started too hard. This is your bread-and-butter threshold session.

THE WEEK

A TYPICAL WEEK, 8 WEEKS OUT

Monday

REST

Recovery is a session — treat it like one.

Tuesday

THRESHOLD INTERVALS (2X20MIN)

Your key quality session of the week.

Wednesday

90MIN Z2 + STRENGTH

Reduced gym volume — maintenance only.

Thursday

VO2 MAX (4X4MIN @ 106-120% FTP)

Push the ceiling. Rep 4 should be the hardest.

Friday

REST OR 45MIN RECOVERY

Legs up.

Saturday

4-6H LONG RIDE WITH 3X15MIN AT EVENT PACE

Specificity starts here.

Sunday

2H Z2

Active recovery.

DON'T DO THIS

Do not stack threshold and VO2 max back-to-back. 48 hours minimum between quality sessions. Stacking kills the adaptation and makes you fragile.

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 8 WEEKS OUT

Is 8 weeks enough to train for the Unbound Gravel?+

Yes, if you already have a reasonable aerobic base. 8 weeks out means peak and taper — we can sharpen and refine, but we can't build new aerobic fitness from scratch. If you're starting from zero now, aim for finishing rather than personal bests.

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 8 weeks out from the Unbound Gravel?+

Reduce to 8-10 hours with rising intensity quality. This is the peak phase — fewer, sharper sessions. Long weekend ride stays but drops slightly (3-4 hours with event-specific work). Weekday sessions are shorter and more intense.

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 ← 12 weeks out

LATE BASE

Later phase → 4 weeks out

PEAK PHASE