Stage 2, Avontuur – Willowmore, Eastern Cape, 27 October 2025
Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) of France claimed Stage 2 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn in Willowmore today (Monday, 27 October) after a storming ride where she reeled in the leaders with just metres to go.
Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) of the United States, pipped at the post after leading, finished second on the 108 km stage from Avontuur to Willowmore, with Canada’s Haley Smith (Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed) taking third place.
As was the case in the Pro Men field, the decisive moment in the Pro Women field came on the first climb of the day, the deceptively tasty sounding Shallot. For most of the field, the climb was akin to cutting onions, with riders in both races having to weave their way up the rugged terrain.
After 12 km of tar towards Uniondale and then onto a short stretch of gravel before the race splintered on the technical Shallot climb. After a technical drop down to pristine, smooth open gravel roads (known as “champagne gravel”), a group of eight women banded together to work towards the finish line into a headwind. In contention for much of the ride were Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soul), Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation), Whitney Allison (Bike Sports | ENVE) and Olivia Hottinger (Scott SRAM).
Pivotal Moments, Pacing and Punctures
Rollins and Preen managed to break free from the group, the two good friends enjoying their time at the front until caught by the chasers. Whitney Allison was dropped on the climb, while the lead bunch was whittled down to a few potential winners as the finish line drew near.
Preen was in contention, sitting just behind Rollins going into the final few kilometres, but a puncture just before hitting the tar road put paid to her stage hopes, forcing her to ride home “on the rim” with no air in her rear tyre for a sixth place finish on the day.