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For the Second Edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, the Pro lineup has plenty of faces, new and old, coming to test themselves against this years challenge.
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Edition #2 · 25–31 October 2026
Pure South African gravel
From a historic Karoo town, traversing vast semi-desert terrain, finishing in Big 5 country, we stay each night in remote Burn Camps, connecting with old and new friends under bright starry skies.
- 7daysof frontier gravel stage racing
- 750kmof pure African gravel
- 8,500mof climbing
- 4Burn Campswith legendary Karoo hospitality
Race start
Graaff-Reinet
Sunday, 25 October
08:00 SAST
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Film
This is the Nedbank Gravel Burn
The route
Across the Great Karoo
Riders take on challenging mountain passes, unpredictable conditions and mixed road surfaces, and are rewarded with uniquely beautiful and contrasting scenery as the race reaches its conclusion at Shamwari.
- Stage 1Sun, 25 OctGraaff-Reinet – BlaauwaterRace90km 1,450 m up 700 m down
- Stage 2Mon, 26 OctBlaauwater loopRace111km 1,450 m up 1,450 m down
- Stage 3Tue, 27 OctBlaauwater – MerinoRace137km 1,550 m up 1,450 m down
- Stage 4Wed, 28 OctMerino loopRace61km 550 m up 550 m down
- Stage 5Thu, 29 OctMerino – GwanishiRace128km 1,050 m up 1,800 m down
- Stage 6Fri, 30 OctGwanishi – ShamwariRace76km 700 m up 950 m down
- Stage 7Sat, 31 OctShamwari loopRace94km 1,350 m up 1,350 m down
Loading the map…
Explore the route
Seven stages from Robert Sobukwe Town / Graaff-Reinet across the Great Karoo to Big 5 country at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, with four Burn Camps along the way:
- Blaauwater 2 nights
- Merino 2 nights
- Gwanishi 1 night
- Shamwari 2 nights
Stage 1 · Sun, 25 Oct
Graaff-Reinet to Blaauwater
- Race
- 90km
- Climbing
- 1,450m
- Descent
- 700m
95% gravel5% paved
- Liaison
- 1km
- Climbing
- 5m
- Descent
- 25m
- Maximum Stage Time = 6h45
Out of town and onto Karoo gravel: climbing towards Conical Peak before a rough, remote descent, then a windswept drag to Blaauwater Burn Camp.
Stage 1 in detailStage 2 · Mon, 26 Oct
Blaauwater loop
- Race
- 111km
- Climbing
- 1,450m
- Descent
- 1,450m
100% gravel
- Maximum Stage Time = 8h00
The 2025 riders’ favourite: a loop via Sneeuberg Nature Reserve, around Compassberg and through Nieu-Bethesda, on every kind of gravel.
Stage 2 in detailStage 3 · Tue, 27 Oct
Blaauwater to Merino
- Race
- 137km
- Climbing
- 1,550m
- Descent
- 1,450m
45% gravel55% paved
- Liaison
- 5km
- Climbing
- 0m
- Descent
- 300m
- Maximum Stage Time = 9h30
The longest stage: Wapadsberg Pass, long rolling tar sections, through lush riverside farmland with a summit finish on Swaershoek Pass.
Stage 3 in detailStage 4 · Wed, 28 Oct
Merino loop
- Race
- 61km
- Climbing
- 550m
- Descent
- 550m
100% gravel
- Maximum Stage Time = 4h30
Fast, rolling hills: the roads trend down towards the Klein-Visrivier valley, then gradually upwards again, back to Merino Burn Camp for another night.
Stage 4 in detailStage 5 · Thu, 29 Oct
Merino to Gwanishi
- Race
- 128km
- Climbing
- 1,050m
- Descent
- 1,800m
99% gravel1% paved
- Liaison
- 7km
- Climbing
- 50m
- Descent
- 70m
- Maximum Stage Time = 8h45
A mix of surfaces: heading due south, then east towards Gwanishi, across remote semi-desert on smooth open gravel, rough farm tracks and a paved connector.
Stage 5 in detailStage 6 · Fri, 30 Oct
Gwanishi to Shamwari
- Race
- 76km
- Climbing
- 700m
- Descent
- 950m
85% gravel15% paved
- Liaison
- 33km
- Climbing
- 500m
- Descent
- 510m
- Maximum Stage Time = 5h30
From Karoo plains into African bushveld: almost all on gravel, with unpredictable surfaces, treacherous riverbeds and a 33 km safari liaison.
Stage 6 in detailStage 7 · Sat, 31 Oct
Shamwari loop
- Race
- 94km
- Climbing
- 1,350m
- Descent
- 1,350m
95% gravel5% paved
- Maximum Stage Time = 7h00
The Big 5 ride: a Shamwari loop through Founder’s Gate, past Alicedale and over Assegaai, then home through The Gauntlet to the celebrations.
Stage 7 in detail
- Burn Camp
- Race route
Padstal
Summit- PCToyota Power Climber
- KMRed Bull KM
Technical descent
River crossing
Railway crossing
Finish- Paved
- Gravel
- Liaison
The Experience
Karoo days
Burn Camp nights
Something special happens when the stars come out over the Karoo and Burn Camp life ignites – rivals become friends and new connections are made in a full immersion into legendary Karoo hospitality, culture, flavours and aromas and its hidden secrets.
- Large comfortable tent and camp bed
- Stay in an intimate camp circle: your Lapa
- Sumptuous Karoo-inspired camp cuisine (all meals)
- Complimentary barista coffee, beer and wine
- Full logistics support, including luggage
- Tech zone: bike maintenance and washing
- Fully equipped Mediclinic field hospital
- Complimentary recovery technology
The race
A frontier pro-am gravel stage race
Gravel lovers of every level ride the same route as Olympic and world champions, and everyone sleeps in the same Burn Camps. Race for a result, or ride for the adventure.
Categories, jerseys and prize money- Prize money
- USD 155,000 prize purse, split equally between women and men
- Jerseys
- Daily leader's jerseys, Toyota Power Climber and Elixirr Challenger jerseys, awarded in the Pro and amateur Age Group categories
- Adaptive
- Handcycle category for disabled athletes (new for 2026)
- Teams
- A race within the race for Pro teams (new for 2026)
Night Burn · Fired up by Red Bull
A high-speed chase after dark
Qualify in the Red Bull KM on Stage 4, then race under the stars at Shamwari on the penultimate night, with bonfires, DJs and the whole Burn Camp watching, while "The Fox", Henrique Avancini, hunts you down.
Stage 6 · The Big 5 liaison
Because some views are worth stopping for
Winning the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn was the highlight of my 2025 season … To win my home race meant a lot, especially against many of the same guys I race against in the US … Everyone wants to race it in 2026.
Trophies & medals
Auspiciously African trophies
The champions light the closing fire at the Burn Celebration with their Fire Starters: handmade from titanium, brass, indigenous Karoo olienhout and ostrich leather, bound together by a 42 g gold ring.
Founder
Kevin Vermaak
In 2004, Kevin founded the Cape Epic and built it into the race known as the Tour de France of mountain biking. After selling it, he took a two-year sabbatical, and gravel bike expeditions in the Swiss Alps sparked his next venture: Nedbank Gravel Burn, created with the team behind the Cape Epic.
Stories
All storiesNews
PartnersRacing from provider to connector, Herotel broadens Nedbank Gravel Burn horizons
Herotel steps up from internet service provider in 2025 to headline sponsor in 2026, with greater responsibility for connecting the race’s remote Burn Camps and letting riders share their adventures with the world.
Founder's blogBlog#18: The Greatest Heroes (Part 2)
Last year, Bryce Carter finished Nedbank Gravel Burn on a Bowhead. This year, four adaptive riders line up – and making it possible has been one of the biggest logistical puzzles we've ever solved.
2027 entries open 5 November
Three entry phases: rewarding riders who commit early.
