RACING
WHO'S RIDING
A UNIFIED FIELD
Nedbank Gravel Burn gathers a dynamic field of top competitors: professional road cyclists, gravel specialists, mountain bikers, cyclocross racers and track riders all vying for the honour of claiming the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn title. It's a rare opportunity to ride and live among Olympic and world champions – the finest athletes in the sport – in this true pro-am race.
STAGE RACING
FORMAT
Like most typical cycling stage races, Nedbank Gravel Burn is a timed event where riders compete solo across seven days of mass-start stages. Riders’ stage times are added together and the rider with the lowest cumulative time is the leader of the race on each day and the winner at the end of the 7-day race. Riders compete to wear the leader’s jersey in their respective category. In addition to being required by race rules to finish within the maximum allowed stage time each day, riders are subject to the event’s rules. The spirit of these rules emphasises fair play, respectful behaviour and active environmental consciousness. The comprehensive and detailed race rules of Nedbank Gravel Burn will be published closer to race week.
A HINT OF WHAT'S TO COME
While stage wins and general classification are the most coveted accolades, there'll be other contests held at Nedbank Gravel Burn... Stay tuned!
PRO-AM RACE
CATEGORIES
During the entry process, riders will be asked to select the category in which they would like to race. Elite riders wishing to compete for prize money (total prize purse = $150,000) must choose the Racing (Open) category. Riders selecting the Age Group category will automatically be placed in their respective age group based on date of birth and gender.
Nedbank Gravel Burn’s prize purse totals $150,000. There will be equal prize money for men and women in the Racing (Open) category for daily stages and the overall GC ranking. Professional women will start in a separate batch after the professional men to ensure a fair racing environment.
PRIZE MONEY BREAKDOWN
Nedbank Gravel Burn’s total prize purse of $150,000 is split equally between men’s and women’s racing categories
| GC | Prize Money | Stage | Prize Money |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | $18,000 | 1st | $1,500 |
| 2nd | $10,000 | 2nd | $1,000 |
| 3rd | $7,500 | 3rd | $500 |
| 4th | $5,500 | Â | Â |
| 5th | $4,000 | Â | Â |
| 6th | $3,000 | Â | Â |
| 7th | $2,250 | Â | Â |
| 8th | $1,500 | Â | Â |
| 9th | $1,250 | Â | Â |
| 10th | $1,000 | Â | Â |
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THE CHALLENGE
WHAT IT TAKES
You’ll cover 850km over 7 days on relatively smooth, non-technical gravel roads. While the demands of the course are lighter than those of a mountain bike stage race, the cumulative fatigue of racing for multiple days shouldn’t be underestimated. Completing Gravel Burn requires endurance, experience, and preparation – qualities that are within reach of a moderately fit cyclist or someone with a solid background in another demanding endurance sport. Honing your bunch-riding skills and committing 12 or more hours a week over six months should provide a solid foundation for success at Gravel Burn.