Unbound Gravel: Simon Pellaud Shines with Runner-Up Finish

What a debut for Simon Pellaud at Unbound Gravel. In just his fifth-ever gravel race, and first time at the iconic event, the Swiss rider powered to a remarkable second-place finish in the world’s most prestigious gravel competition. Teaming up with New Zealander Cameron Jones early on, the pair rode off the front and never looked back.

1.06.2025

Pellaud arrived in Kansas, USA highly motivated, eager to put behind him the bad luck of recent races, where punctures hampered his performances at UCI Gravel Monaco and Traka 360. “After learning a lot at Sea Otter and chasing the whole race at Traka, I was determined to be at the front and make others chase me,” said the 33-year-old. “That’s how I’ve always raced, even on the road. I came here to show what I can do, put on a show, and have fun.”

The strategy paid off. Pellaud and Jones broke clear early and maintained their lead despite strong winds and a stacked field chasing behind. “It was a unique situation to be out front so early,” Pellaud reflected. “Everything went to plan, and it was fun, until the final 50 kilometers! After that, I was just surviving. I had nothing left to respond when Jones attacked near the finish. I’m exhausted but proud of how I rode.”

Pellaud now sits in 3rd place in the Life Time Grand Prix overall standings. The next event of the series will be the legendary Leadville 100 in August. Before that, he’ll race Festivus of Gravel in Canada and the UCI Gravel World Series event in Switzerland, where he’ll be joined by teammate Jan Stöckli.

It’s been less than three months since Tudor Pro Cycling announced its entry into gravel racing, but the Swiss duo is already making waves. With results like this, it’s clear they’re just getting started.

Photo credit: Wil Matthews