Greg Van Avermart won the lottery to win his debut spot at the start line at Unbound Gravel, which is scheduled to be held in Emporia, Kansas, on May 6-1. The former Olympic gold medalist, Tour de France stage winner and Paris-Roubaix champion admitted he didn't know what to expect and was a bit 'scared', but wants to channel his extensive experience in the cobblestone one-day race into a rough and rugged 200-mile event.

"I've trained as much as I can to be ready for the unbound, and I look forward to competing in this level of racing. Since this event has been trying for several years in my head and retired from the road last year, I can do more of an adventure like this and try different things

"I'm a bit scared of the distance, it will definitely take me out of my comfort zone, but as a road rider, I'm always long." I was strong,racing for the day, I try my best and try to enjoy it as much as I can.

"I still need to look at the route properly, but one of the most important factors in success in this type of race will be what limits the amount of machines you have, but it's really fun.

Van Avermaet spoke with the press on Wednesday and, more than a week before Unbound, previewed some sections of the race, looked at images of gravel roads and studied the route to gain as much knowledge as possible.

He won the Paris Roubaix in 2017 and has never raced unbound, but the challenge of gravel racing, especially when it comes to luck, competes in hell in the North

"The course looks really rough and a bit scary when viewed from the pictures. You need to be careful with your bike. I'm riding a road bike. I was able to handle my bike very well on the cobblestone," Van Avermaet said.

"I was really careful not to have a flat, like a race like Rubé. I did it, I think, 12 or 15 times, I don't know, but only once I had a punctured tire in all those races. Gravel racing is more if you're lucky. So you have to be lucky.

Van Avermaet said that equipment, support and mechanical knowledge are also important aspects that help in long races like Unbound.

"If you can keep your material in top shape, I think you can get far. I, of course, had to learn how to plug the tires, but I knew what the size of the holes and the appearance of the tires were.Van Avermaet said.

"I think good preparation and good reconnaissance can help a lot in making good decisions. And yeah, then just be careful about what you're trying to do. And, in the end, still have legs.

Van Avermart retired from professional road racing in 2023, but said he always wanted to compete in gravel events that he could not do during road racing. He then finished fourth at the UCI Gravel World Championships and won the Gravel Triathlon SGRAIL100 in Spain. 

Van Abelmae competed in the 5th Traca 200 in Girona, Spain. He finished in 7th place and is lagging behind 1:35 winner retired professional road racer Petr Vakoc (Canyon Integray). He said he wants to be in the front group with Vakoc at Unbound.

"He won the Traca, and he was all over the podium when he was racing. And he is still motivated. When I spoke to him, he was really good prepared, and he was looking forward to an unrestrained adventure. And, of course, I think it's kind of a relationship where we can help each other," Van Avermaet said.

"I have experience from road cycling, of course, but I think it's a good combination because he has more experience on gravel. I was a bit sad that I didn't do it to the first group of Traka but I'm there for a long distance and another course and I want to be there with him in the previous group and see how it will be."