Kohei Yamamoto is headed back to South Africa. The Japanese mountain bike legend has confirmed he will race Nedbank Gravel Burn from 25 to 31 October 2026 – his first gravel stage race, and another major international name joining a field that now spans 26 countries.
Yamamoto, a four-time Olympic cross-country mountain biker and 12-time Japanese national champion, has signed as a Titan FX Ambassador for 12 months. His commitment to Nedbank Gravel Burn forms part of Titan FX’s Dream Beyond Borders campaign, which backs those looking to take on challenges and are able to dream big beyond borders.
The 40-year-old came out of retirement to race the 2026 Cape Epic as Team Titan FX alongside Singapore national champion Riyadh Hakim Lukman. The pair finished fifth overall in the Open Men’s category. Yamamoto now turns to the Karoo and Eastern Cape for a different test: seven days, 750km, and a solo gravel stage race from Graaff-Reinet/Robert Sobukwe to Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Yamamoto has been a defining figure in Asian mountain biking for nearly two decades. He represented Japan at four consecutive Olympic Games from Beijing 2008 through Tokyo 2020, reached a career-high UCI world ranking of 11th, and won multiple Asian championships while racing at the sport’s highest level with teams including Trek Factory Racing and Specialized Racing. He now leads Yamamoto Athlete Farm, developing the next generation of Japanese riders.
He first came across the Nedbank Gravel Burn while watching footage from the inaugural edition, and the image of riders sharing seven days and seven Burn Camps through the Karoo struck him: “When I learned it was a seven-day stage race where participants live and camp together, I knew instantly – this was exactly the kind of challenge I had been searching for,” Yamamoto said. “It’s a brand-new journey for me, and my goal is to win my age-group, for myself and for everyone who supports me.”
Age-group titles are awarded in five-year increments for men and women, up to 20 category winners across the field. At 40, Yamamoto will race for honours in the men’s 40-44 category.
His participation also marks a growing connection between the race and Asian cycling through Dream Beyond Borders, Titan FX’s campaign dedicated to supporting individuals who continue to challenge themselves beyond boundaries, industries and countries.