New Zealander Cameron Jones took a spectacular win in the 200-mile race at Unbound on Saturday, setting a new record for the event’s North Course and securing a spot in the invitation-only Lifetime Grand Prix. He broke clear with a daunting 150 miles to go, taking only Tudor Pro Cycling’s Simon Pellaud with him.
The two stayed clear and worked together, until Jones attacked on the final climb of Highland Hill with less than two miles remaining and rode solo to the line, opening a gap of 42 seconds over his erstwhile breakaway companion. “Going into the race, there's something to be said for playing it safe, and if I went all in and got caught, I wouldn’t only lose the race, but also the opportunity to be a part of the Lifetime Grand Prix,” he said. “People were sitting up behind and ahead of me, so I decided to push on. I was very thankful I did.” His time of 8:37:09 beat Lachlan Morton’s previous record of 9:11:47, set in 2024.
Jones rode a size 56 Scott Addict Gravel RC in what looks like a custom paintjob but is actually a stock colour way called ‘Beluga Grey’ that Scott also offers with the flat-bar Scale Gravel RC. The rest of the bike, however, is built to Jones’s specifications, most notably eschewing the Syncros Creston iC SL X integrated cockpit for a long 140mm Deda Vinci stem with an aggressive -17° negative rise and an ENVE SES aero bar in a 37/42 width.
However, there was still an abundance of Syncros kit – Scott’s component brand – including the Syncros Capital 1.0S 40mm deep-section wheels. For the race Jones ran Schwalbe G-One tyres in a mtb-style configuration of a fatter, slicker 50mm RS front and a knobblier, narrower 45mm RX rear (both are RXs in these pre-race pictures).
Shifting is via Shimano GRX Di2 (rear derailleur and shifters) paired with an 11-34 cassette. Jones used short 160mm cranks with a road 2x Dura-Ace chainset and 4iiii dual-sided power meter, and he opted for Shimano GRX off-road pedals.
His top-tube bag and saddle bag are both by Syncros, as are the bottle cages, and a Syncros Flex post took the sting out of the rocky Flint Hills parcours.
And finally, a bottle of Cook's California Champagne took the edge off riding 202 miles off-road at an average of 23.5mph.
