THIS IS US

In the early 2000s, while working as an IT professional, Kevin meticulously planned bucket-list adventures around the world with his friends. One of many was leading the first-ever combined mountain biking and snowboarding expedition to summit Muztag Ata (7500m) in China. Then, on a beach in Costa Rica, after finishing La Ruta bike race he conceived the idea for a pro-am full-service mountain bike stage race. He left behind a comfortable life in London to start the Cape Epic back home in Cape Town, South Africa. Now, twenty years later, there’s a new spark, to create a significant pro-am gravel stage race and to give riders the world over another reason to travel to South Africa – this time with their gravel bikes.

Logistics is often seen as a complex web of numbers and painstaking coordination – cold and calculated. But Richard’s superpower lies in something far warmer: his natural connection with people. He led the logistics team at the Cape Epic for its first ten years, crafting the blueprint that is now the backbone of the race. After that, he launched his own event company, showing his expertise lies in bringing new events to life. An avid mountain biker turned gravel rider, Richard is mapping out every detail to make Gravel Burn run smoother than the gravel under our wheels.

For over 20 years, Neil has created and built brands across industries (including Gravel Burn’s). As a writer and creative director, he’s worked with global agency groups, independent studios, and also run his own, specialising in start-ups. His passion for cycling – both on-road and off – has been a constant for over 30 years, reigniting it with his first gravel ride eight years ago. He’s also brought that passion to the mic as a race commentator, most notably at the Cape Epic, since their first live broadcast in 2011 and at the Swiss Epic. Now, with Gravel Burn, he gets to combine it in one place.

The route is at the heart of any cycling event. It should challenge, inspire and reward every rider. The man behind Gravel Burn’s route is a true explorer. Steve owns and runs one of the country’s top cycling tour operators, and a glance at a heat map of the roads and trails he’s covered, whether with clients or on his own adventures, would show hot spots all over the globe, and South Africa would appear almost entirely red. As a history buff, he has a story for every corner and Gravel Burn riders can expect to hear many of them next October. He has also provided his services at every Cape Epic since the very first race in 2004.

Kevin and Jennifer have worked together since 2013. “My desk at Cape Epic faced his, and I got to witness his passion and tenacity to create a truly premium event,” she recalls. Over the years, Jennifer has been a key part of many of Cape Town’s major events. Her title may say ‘event operations,’ but it could just as easily read ‘unflappable detail fanatic’. At Gravel Burn, she ensures that every moving part comes together seamlessly.

In our first month, we set Knysna as Gravel Burn’s start location. As Richard set out his plans, 500km away in Cape Town, he needed a ‘local legend’ to engage with the landowners. Pax has 25 years of owning bike shops and organising bike races in the area, and a natural ability to bring out the best in people. He is our lead and key contact for all our Local Organising Committees at each stage location.