Another exciting milestone has just passed for us at Nedbank Gravel Burn – entries for the inaugural event have officially sold out! We had set a target of 500 participants at the 2025 event, and we’ve not only reached it – we’ve exceeded it.
Since then we’ve received numerous requests for entries. But because the Gravel Burn is a full-service stage race that includes accommodation, catering, race services, medical support and more, it’s not easy to scale up entry numbers once planning is underway. Plus, our aim is to deliver on our promise of exceptional service and the highest standard of rider experience. Limiting the field to 500 riders ensures that’s achievable. We may increase the capacity for a larger field in 2026. But for now, we’re fully focused on October 2025.
That said, there’s still a chance to be part of the 2025 edition. Our waiting list is now live. If any registered riders withdraw, we’ll connect them with those on the list. To make it meaningful (and discourage casual sign-ups), there’s a small fee to join the waiting list – the full waiting list fee will be donated to our Conservation Partner VulPro.
As a bonus, riders who join the waiting list but don’t get a spot this year will be given priority entry for the 2026 edition.
While general entries are sold out, we’re open to applications from elite riders – especially top-tier women professionals. Email us to apply.
In other news, we’ve just returned from The Kindling, our test ride for the event – and I’m more confident than ever that we’re creating something truly special. One friend who joined us, who’s completed all of South Africa’s major stage races, described it one evening:
“The best day of riding in my life, bar none… it was amazing how remote and far from civilization it all is.”
He’s not the type to exaggerate and his feedback was echoed by many others.
During The Kindling, we rode stages 3 and 4, plus a portion of stage 5 (67 km). However a few diehards completed a full recce of this 140 km stage (since our last recce in November we’ve redesigned this stage to be shorter – more on this in another story…) We spent two nights at the Blaauwater Burn Camp, joined by 75 people – around a third were riders, another third were sponsor and stakeholder representatives and the rest were crew, testing everything from connectivity to catering.
I rode the route myself and came away with a few insights that could help riders prepare. I’ll share these in another blog post.
As it stands, we’ll welcome riders from 25 countries, with 45% of the field coming from outside South Africa. Women will make up 18% of the field.
The international spirit of the event has been given a boost by Pinarello, which has secured 20 entries and reserved its own Lapa at the Burn Camps. The iconic brand will invite top dealers and brand ambassadors from around the world to join the experience.
We’ve been both surprised and thrilled to see some of the sport’s biggest names signing up. In fact, a few months ago, we quietly decided to stop announcing pro entries – we noticed that some amateur riders were hesitant to enter, unsure if they’d be in over their heads riding alongside such elite competitors. The truth is, the Nedbank Gravel Burn route has been designed to be rewarding and manageable for both amateurs and pros. I genuinely believe it will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience for everyone – especially those who’ll one day be able to say they were there at the very first one.