Matey Moholich will debut the Rainbow Jersey from the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships next week at the Gravel Circuit's most famous race in Emporia, Kansas.

After winning the world title in Veneto with his gravel debut, the Slovenian will compete 6-1 in a 203・mile (327km) event alongside teammates Matev Govekar and Lucas Winiowski as part of the 137・man elite men's field.

"I'm excited to be joining 'Unbound Gravel200' for the first time. It's just the 2nd gravel race of my life, so there are still many unknowns," Mohorish said in a press release of Bahrain's victory.

"To be honest, I don't know what to expect! It is considerably longer than last year's Gravel World Champ" - the rider had to cover 169 km. "We've increased the distance by 2x, the time by 2x, and the elevation by 2x, so it's good for riders with more endurance and stamina. I don't know how to fight with others, but I definitely do my best and enjoy a day in the Rainbow Jersey as a current world champion

"It will be a once-in-a-lifetime, unique experience, and I will make the most of it.""

Moholy has joined Joris Nienheis, Lawrence Neisen, Daniel Oss, Jan Bekelanz, Greg van Avermaat, Chad Haga, Nicholas Roche, Alex Howes, Niki Terpstra and the defending champion captain. It will be one of a large contingent of current and former road pros, including Gunn Swenson, Peter Stetina, Lawrence Ten Dam, Ian Boswell and Nathan Haas. It will also face skilled gravel racers like Torbjørn Andre Røed, winner of last season's Big Sugar Gravel, Adam Roberge, winner of 2023's Gravel Locos, and Mattia De Marchi, winner of this year's Utopia Gravel Fest.

"Lukasz and Matev are with me and we make it an unforgettable day. It will be very long and crazy hard, but we try it.

Unbound offers one of the most challenging off-road race routes with tire-splitting Flint gravel, water intersections and relentless climbs totaling more than 10,000 feet of ascent, with its almost entirely gravel course.

This race can be a big surprise for Wišniowski, who will race gravel for the first time.

"I've never competed in gravel and I know very little about the race itself, but my role is to protect leader Matey, support him and help him on the course." I will do my best on the day!"

The Unbound Gravel 200 is largely self-supported in two feed zones where riders can refuel, but it will be even more important to have teammates than a typical road race because riders are allowed to help each other.

"I'm really excited to try my hand at the 'Gravel race of All gravel races', but at the same time I'm scared for how long it's been," Govekar said, "I'm pretty young, but I already know that this is a really big challenge both physically and mentally. I will do my absolute best in the race, of course, and you do not know what will happen!"