Lauren De Crescenzo is ready to defend her title at Unbound Gravel 200, but despite feeling physically and mentally stronger than last year, she is clearly taking a relaxed approach to facing a tougher field She is. [Race-wise, she is confident. I am at a higher level physically and mentally than last year. My team and I are taking a really comprehensive approach on how we can improve from all angles. I am excited to defend my title, but I am not going to put unnecessary pressure on myself," de Crescenzo said on the eve of the competition.

"The start list is packed with talented riders, and in a race like Unbound you never know what will happen. No matter what happens on race day, my commitment to this event will make me a better cyclist."

Although de Crescendo targets many of the most prestigious gravel races around the country each season, she is not among the 60 riders participating in the Lifetime Grand Prix Series, of which the Unbound Gravel 200 is the second of six events. She said she is taking a more long-term approach to her gravel racing career, noting that she still has a lot to learn in this discipline.

"I am proud of the team and program I helped found and the riders and staff that are part of it. We have great long-term goals in cycling. But I go into every race ready to learn. I feel I am working toward a PhD in cycling. I have a lot to learn for that, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love racing bicycles," de Crescenzo said.

Winning the Unbound 200 last year made De Crescenzo one of the most well-known athletes in gravel racing and put her on a new trajectory as a professional athlete, she said.

"This race is special for me. Last year, after unbound, the team matched my CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] salary, and this year I didn't have to telework eight hours a day leading up to the race. Now I can devote the proper amount of time to preparing for the race. Plus, I won't have a wedding six days before the race like I did last year!"

"I'm very happy with the results," said de Crescenzo, a former CDC epidemiologist and researcher on transportation safety.

She has taken full advantage of her new pro schedule with the Cinch Rise team and is already off to a good start with an overall win at the 2022 Tour of the Gila. She said her combined road and gravel season helped prepare her for Unbound.

"This year I competed in big races like the Tour of the Gila, Valley of the Sun, and Midsouth, so I think that gives me an advantage in terms of event preparation. Last year, due to my work schedule, I was only able to compete in local races on weekends," de Crescenzo said.

While lining up to defend his title in the 200-mile event, de Crescenzo recalled that what attracted him most to this major gravel race was the camaraderie of the thousands of participants.

"Unbound comes with the limits of what you think you can do. Signing up means signing up for pain and problems," de Crescenzo said.

"But after struggling out there all day, the happiness and sense of accomplishment when you cross the finish line lasts forever. All my life I have used difficult experiences to better myself. Unbound is one of those benchmark experiences for me, as it is for many in the gravel world."