As Unbound 2026 draws closer, we are looking back at a landmark 2025 for Exposure Lights at one of gravel racing’s most demanding and prestigious events.
Last year, in the XL, gravel’s ultimate test of endurance, darkness and equipment choice, both the men’s and women’s winners lined up with Exposure. Across 350 miles of relentless Kansas gravel, through the night and deep into the following day, lighting was not just a detail. It was part of the race strategy.
Men’s winner Rob Britton rode to victory with the Toro, making his move past Lachlan Morton in the final hour of racing. For Rob, the Toro delivered exactly what the XL demands: a refined balance of low weight, powerful output and the confidence to keep pushing at a remarkable average speed of 32km/h for more than 18 hours.
It was Rob’s first time racing through the night with the Toro, and its performance left a lasting impression. The visibility exceeded his expectations, giving him the clarity to ride fast and commit fully when the race was at its sharpest. Even after crossing the line as the winner, he still had five hours of battery life remaining.
In the women’s race, Heather Jackson took a more maximal approach. Her philosophy was simple: the more light, the better. Running a Six Pack on the front for maximum output, paired with a Diablo for added punch, Heather cut through the night with unmistakable presence. Those watching from the roadside described her lumen output as a freight train approaching in the distance.
Second placed Serena Gordon adopted the same method, also choosing the Six Pack to light her way through the long Kansas night.
Exposure Lights ambassador Lael Wilcox also made her Exposure debut at Unbound 2025, riding to an impressive fourth place while in the midst of a world tour for her film, Around the World 1.0. With Unbound XL recognising four podium positions, Exposure powered three of the four fastest finishers. Six Pack, Six Pack and Toro. Three riders, two race-winning light choices, one emphatic statement.
And beyond the sharp end of the XL, Exposure was everywhere. Across both the XL and Unbound 200, the start line was alive with Exposure Lights, chosen by riders preparing for dust, darkness, distance and every pot hole the Kansan trails ould throw at them.
The 2026 start lists are still to be announced, but one thing is already clear. Exposure will be back in Kansas, both on the bikes and on the ground, ready for another year at gravel’s biggest stage.
