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Second edition of European qualifier for Unbound Gravel on 8-9-10 August

On 8, 9 and 10 August, participants in Heathland Gravel can qualify for Unbound Gravel 2026. The qualifying race is 160 km in length and takes participants from Terhills in Maasmechelen over the most beautiful gravel trails of the Hoge Kempen National Park

The race itself is on the Sunday, with social rides and a course exploration scheduled for the Friday evening and on the Saturday.

This past weekend, Unbound Gravel, the ultimate gravel race, was on the agenda. In Emporia, Kansas, 4,000 gravel enthusiasts from all over the world gathered to take part in the race, which is considered the equivalent of the Ironman in Hawaii for triathletes within its discipline.

“Unbound is a race that still continues to capture people’s imagination,” says Flanders Classics CEO Tomas Van Den Spiegel, “which has led to its enormous popularity. And taking part is no easy task, as you need to have luck on your side in the lottery. Since last year, Heathland Gravel has been a European qualifier for Unbound, which means that candidates can once again qualify this summer for Unbound Gravel 2026. A total of 50 participants can qualify directly and avoid the Unbound lottery completely. This means they will already know in August whether they are eligible to take part, allowing them to begin their preparations three months before the Unbound lottery takes place.”

How to qualify?

In total, 50 participants can secure their spot for Unbound Gravel 2026 during Heathland Gravel. Half of the spots are awarded based on performance, allocated across different age groups. The number of qualifications depends on the total number of participants within the age group. The other half is determined by lottery, which means that every participant has a chance to participate in Unbound Gravel, not just the strongest riders.

The Course

The qualification distance is 160 km, with 700 or so vertical metres. More than 80% of the course is made up of unpaved paths. Along the way, you can enjoy the vast forests of the Hoge Kempen National Park, fields as far as the eye can see and the Meuse Valley. The course also takes in the Eisden mining site, the Mechelse Heide, the Valley of the Ziepbeek and Bergerven Nature Reserve.

The qualification distance is 160 km, with 700 or so vertical metres

Those who want to take part in the longest distance but don’t wish to qualify are of course welcome to do so. And those who prefer to cycle a short distance can opt for two alternative courses of 70 and 110 km - these options do not form part of the competition.