2025 ENTRIES SOLD OUT
RACE WEEK: 26 OCTOBER – 1 NOVEMBER 2025

THIS ISGRAVEL BURN

Gravel Burn is a 7-day, 850km, full-service, international gravel-bike stage race, starting in Knysna, traversing the breathtaking landscapes of the Great Karoo, and finishing at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape. The inaugural event takes place from 26 October to 1 November 2025 and this new venture is led by the founder of the Cape Epic.

7 DAYS AND 850KM OF PURE SOUTH AFRICAN GRAVEL.

THE START

Knysna marks the start and sets the theme — a week of contrasting vistas. We head north east through lush, indigenous forest and there’s a particular corner along the route, just at the crest of a rise, where everthing changes.

THE HEART

The vast Great Karoo desertscapes — an open treasure chest of geography, geology, history, astronomy, flora & fauna and the stories they tell. This is a place where life clings to the edges and the hardiest creatures thrive. 

THE FINISH

The horizon shifts again and we sense, in a moment, that we’re in game country. It’s primal. While there’s a certain sense of pride after racing for 7 days and 850km on a gravel bike, the king of the jungle will certainly keep us in check.

BURNING QUESTIONS?

FIRESTARTER EVENINGS

Join us at an introduction evening with founder Kevin Vermaak and the team. Choose your date and location:

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

11 February 2025
10H00
5th Floor, WeWork Sandton

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

10 October 2024

Cape Town

09H00
Gravel Burn HQ

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

16 January 2025

London

18H00
The Pinarello Store, London

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

23 January 2025

Girona

19H00
Hors Categorie, Girona

RESERVE YOUR SPOT

22 January 2025

Barcelona

19H00
El Cinco, Barcelona

FOUNDERS BLOG

KEVIN VERMAAK

More about Absa Cape Epic founder Kevin Vermaak’s next venture, in his own words.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

Not able to attend one of our Firestarter evenings?
Have a read here, chances are that your burning questions has been answered already.

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WHO IS GRAVEL BURN?

THE TEAM

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Kevin Vermaak

FOUNDER

Richard McMartin

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR

Neil Gardiner

BRAND AND MARKETING

Jennifer Welzel

EVENT SERVICES

Steve Thomas

ROUTE DESIGN

Pax Mostert

LOC LEAD

INTERESTED IN JOINING OUR GROWING TEAM?

Send us your CV and a brief introduction and let’s start the conversation!

BE THE FIRST TO KNOW

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Stay in the loop, with exclusive updates and previews, as we build Gravel Burn.

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Please select the correct box to begin your registration process.

South African and Namibian riders paying in South African Rand (ZAR) must enter their ID or passport numbers and present their identification document on registration day in Knysna. All international riders pay in US Dollars.

Important: If an international rider incorrectly registers as a South African or Namibian, their entry may be forfeited.

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