'At the half-way point, I was four minutes behind' - Unbound Gravel winner Cameron Jones surpasses Keegan Swenson's record time at The White Rim

Cameron Jones, the New Zealander and reigning Unbound Gravel champion, has established a new Fastest Known Time (FKT) on Utah's challenging White Rim Trail. Jones completed the roughly 100-mile, rugged route in an unofficial time of 5 hours, 28 minutes, and 56 seconds, eclipsing Keegan Swenson's previous record by nearly five minutes. Notably, Jones overcame a four-minute deficit at the halfway point to secure this impressive solo effort.

This new benchmark underscores Jones's formidable endurance and strategic prowess, particularly as he continues to build on his breakthrough Unbound victory. Swenson, a multi-time national champion and another leading figure in American gravel racing, set his FKT just last year, highlighting the escalating competition and professionalisation of off-road challenges. The White Rim, with its technical terrain and remote setting, serves as a brutal proving ground, and Jones's performance signals a significant shift in the pecking order for these ultra-endurance events.

Jones’s FKT isn't just a number; it's a statement. The gauntlet has been thrown, and the gravel elite now have a new target on a route where there's nowhere to hide.