A Year of Dirt and Gravel: 2025 Race Winners’ Favorite Photos

• 2025 team – Herbalife/Canyon
• 2025 key results – winner Unbound gravel XL, fourth The Traka 360
• Favourite photo from 2025 – “Definitely Unbound XL”

Heather Jackson amassed six Ironman wins and 16 Ironman 70.3 wins across 15 years,then became a standout performer with just the bike in gravel racing. After wins at Belgian Waffle Ride California and Stetina’s Paydirt in 2023, she raced Unbound Gravel 200 in 2024 and finished fifth, mixing it up with the eight others in a first-ever mass sprint to the finish. One year later, she took on Unbound XL, the 350-mile overnight endurance contest across the Flint Hills of Kansas, and won the women’s division, finishing eighth overall.

unbound XL victory, in 20 hours, 57 minutes, 57 seconds, was double the effort from the 200-miler. She called an all-out time trial effort, and after the race revealed the chaos of her headlamp going out, a crash and mud stuck in her wheels. Her win and suffering will remain as one of the most special memories:

So many things can happen in off-road gravel events,especially the longer the distance,and so when one comes together,it’s an absolute dream come true. And that was Unbound XL for me!

This picture always speaks to me because I specifically remember seeing Linda leaning out of the Life Time vehicle, screaming the most congratulatory of things – she has been one of my biggest supporters, and she looked truly so happy for me. So it’s more that I remember Linda [Guerrette] behind the lens more than this photo itself, and that I wanted to yell something back but there were only about five miles left here and I literally could not lift my head or neck.

It hurt so bad from time trialling for 20 hours, and I was honestly questioning whether I could make it to the final few miles, but I just tried to internalize Linda’s happiness.- Heather Jackson

Britton’s Unbound XL Victory Captured in a Stellar Shot

Canadian Rob Britton transitioned to gravel racing four years ago after eleven seasons as a professional road cyclist. His initial Unbound Gravel 200 attempt in 2022, as part of the inaugural Life Time Grand Prix roster, resulted in a sixth-place finish. He subsequently fell outside the top ten in the following two editions of the prestigious race.

However, after a strong second place at The Traka 360 in 2024, Britton truly made his mark at Unbound in the 2025 XL race. He relentlessly pursued favourite Lachlan Morton throughout the night, ultimately overtaking the Australian with ten miles remaining to secure victory in 17 hours, 49 minutes, and 51 seconds – a new course record for the XL distance. Britton described it as “a cool day of racing – a full day and night.”

The winning moment was immortalized by a stunning photograph captured by Thomas Prehn, a feat that demanded as much dedication as Britton’s ride itself. Prehn strategically positioned himself at four locations along the 350-mile course, primarily focusing on the latter half. The decisive shot was taken at 1:30 AM. Here’s how the image rose to the top, recounted by Prehn in a video recap:

“I went there [Kansas] with a specific photo concept in mind. I wanted to capture my friend Rob Britton at night with a long exposure so you could see the stars. Because of the logistics of the course and the limited roads, I had very limited opportunities to capture them.”

“With the camera on a tripod and also mounted on a tripod with a rogue modifier, to narrow the focus of the strobe, I took a couple test shots. Lachlan Morton comes up, I fully missed the shot. I hit the shutter too soon. Next, Rob Britton comes up, I miss again. The strobe missed him.”

“At Kansas 150 and C Road, now after 1:30 in the morning [a third setup for the shot]. I set up, I take more test shots. I get the framing right and the strobe right. Lachlan Morton approaches, ah, just a fraction of a second too early [for the right image]. To my shock, Rob britton is fast approaching. Because of the thirty-second exposure, I have only a few seconds to review the shot, see what I need to do differently. I get the shot I’m looking for.”

“Rob told me after the race that as he was approaching, he saw this tripod, and that’s why he looked over at me. Perfect shot.” – Thomas Prehn.

For Britton, the photo – and the result it represents – is unbeatable. He reflects, “The photo Thomas got of me from Unbound was unreal and with the result to match its really hard to beat!”

Rosa Klöser

Riding for women’s WorldTour team Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto, Klöser had a tough decision to make about one image to convey a top achievement in 2025, from road racing with her team at Paris-Roubaix femmes and Tour de Suisse Women to winning the German Gravel National Championship and the overall title at Gravel Earth Series.

In order to secure the GES title, having already won three series events and finding the podium on two others, she outdistanced rivals Morgan Aguirre and Karolina Migoń at Ranxo Gravel to maintain her top points in the standings.That victory she called “an amazing reward after a tough week”, as she had thought she would take the European Gravel Championship the weekend before, but flatted in the final seven kilometres to finish third.

While winning Ranxo and the GES overall on the same day was her top highlight, she selected her most memorable image of the year from her win at The Rift:

“The Rift, this race was just an experience in itself and probably one of the victories I am most proud. I was riding 170 of the 200km by myself, and that took a lot of mental effort.” – Rosa Klöser.

2025 team – Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto
2025 key results – winner at The Rift, CORE4, Ranxo Gravel, Hegau Gravel, Eislek Gravel Luxembourg, alentejo Gravel and German Gravel Nationals; second at The Traka 200 and fourth at Unbound Gravel 200
Favourite photo from 2025 – “The Rift.”

Sofia Gomez Villafañe’s Dominant 2025 Season: Traka 200 Victory and Life Time Grand Prix Success

Sofia Gomez Villafañe continued her reign as a leading force in off-road cycling in 2025, achieving a remarkable season highlighted by a surprise victory at The Traka 200 and continued success in the Life Time Grand Prix series. The year saw her secure wins at major events including Valley of Tears, Life Time Little Sugar MTB, Life Time Big Sugar Classic, BWR Arizona, BWR California, and a second Cape Epic title alongside Annika Langvad, alongside a third-place finish at unbound Gravel 200.

2025 Season Highlights & Key results

Gomez Villafañe’s 2025 season was marked by both planned dominance and unexpected triumphs. her key results included:

* The traka 200: Winner
* Valley of Tears: Winner
* Life Time Little Sugar MTB: Winner
* Life Time Big Sugar Classic: Winner
* BWR Arizona: Winner
* BWR California: Winner
* cape Epic: Overall Winner (with Annika Langvad)
* Unbound Gravel 200: Third Place

A Surprise Victory at The Traka 200

Despite a challenging lead-up to the race, including illness following the Cape Epic and travel difficulties, Gomez Villafañe secured a memorable win at The Traka 200 in Girona, Spain. It was her first time competing in the event, and she approached it with a focus on learning the course and enjoying the experience. https://www.cyclingnews.com/riders/sofia-gomez-villafane/

the race unfolded as a compelling battle with Rosa Klöser, whom Gomez Villafañe described as “so kind out there helping me navigate the course because I had no idea where I was going.” the two riders maintained a fair race, but a late crash by Klöser allowed Gomez Villafañe to capitalize on the final single-track section and secure the victory. She expressed her surprise, stating, “Holy smokes, I won Traka 200 – I truly didn’t see that one coming.”

Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Freedom

Gomez villafañe faced meaningful hurdles leading up to The Traka 200. She battled illness after the Cape Epic and endured a grueling schedule of four consecutive race weekends. Travel to Spain was also problematic, leading to consideration of withdrawing from the event. However, she persevered, arriving in Girona with surprisingly good form.

Crucially, Gomez Villafañe adopted a different mindset for The Traka 200, prioritizing enjoyment over results. She explained, “It was the first time in a long time that I felt the freedom to race for the fun of it and not worry too much about the result; turns out that was a winning formula for me.” This shift in perspective proved instrumental in her success.

Continued Dominance in the Life Time Grand Prix

Beyond The Traka 200, Gomez Villafañe continued to excel in the Life Time Grand Prix series. She secured top points at the Sea Otter Classic and finished third at Unbound Gravel 200, ultimately finishing as the overall series champion for a third consecutive season. She also achieved a second Cape epic victory alongside Annika Langvad, solidifying her position as a leading figure in endurance mountain biking.