Pro
The world’s best
Pros from all cycling disciplines compete for the biggest prize purse in gravel stage racing. Slots are awarded based on results and past commitment to the race.
The Race
A frontier pro-am gravel stage race
Gravel-loving enthusiasts from across the planet join top professionals on the same route, staying in the same Burn Camps and sharing the same fires.
- 7daysof frontier gravel stage racing
- 750kmof pure African gravel
- 8,500mof climbing
- 4Burn Campswith legendary Karoo hospitality
Pro Women
Separate start. Equal prize money.
Format
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a timed event where riders compete solo across seven days of mass-start stages.
Separate start groups
Every stage starts in groups: Pro Men first, Pro Women 3 minutes later, then the Age Group riders 15 minutes after the Pro Men, seeded according to general classification.
Jersey Competitions
Riders compete for stage wins and GC in every category. They may also compete for the Elixirr Challenger jersey (for greatest improvement per day) and the Toyota Power Climber jersey for the best performing climbers. Jersey Competitions
Teams Classification
Although every rider races as an individual, Pro Men and Pro Women riders may also enter as a team of three or four, racing for the Teams Classification.
Fully marked route
The route is fully marked, with marshals at key points. Riders can read an in-depth description of each stage on the Gravel Burn Rider App. GPS tracks are available on the day of registration.
Fully supported
Our Padstals (service stations) are fully stocked with AMACX sports nutrition and race food – fruit, potatoes, sandwiches etc. SRAM and Shimano provide tech support (free labour, parts are charged for).
Maximum stage times
Each stage has a generous maximum stage time. Riders must finish within it every day to be an official finisher.
Race for the podium, chase a jersey in your age group, or simply ride through the Karoo with friends and enjoy every kilometre. However you ride it, everyone shares the same route, the same Padstals, the same support and the same Burn Camps, under the race rules.
Categories
Start ListAge Group
A category for everyone
GC leader jerseys in every Age Group and Special Competition jerseys are awarded each day. All Final GC winners receive the iconic Fire Starter trophy.
- 19–34
- 35–39
- 40–44
- 45–49
- 50–54
- 55–59
- 60–64
- 65–69
- 70–74
- 75+
Jersey competitions
Anyone can win a jersey at Nedbank Gravel Burn, Pro or Age Group, from the front of the field to the back.
Prize money
USD 155,000, split equally between Pro Women and Pro Men, for the overall classification, every stage and the Toyota Power Climber jersey.
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | USD 18,000 |
| 2nd | USD 10,000 |
| 3rd | USD 7,500 |
| 4th | USD 5,500 |
| 5th | USD 4,000 |
| 6th | USD 3,000 |
| 7th | USD 2,250 |
| 8th | USD 1,500 |
| 9th | USD 1,250 |
| 10th | USD 1,000 |
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | USD 1,500 |
| 2nd | USD 1,000 |
| 3rd | USD 500 |
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| Overall winner | USD 2,500 |
Teams Competition
Teams Classification
A race within the race
New in 2026 for Pro Men and Pro Women: teams of three or four riders. Teams are ranked on points awarded based on the combined times of their three highest-placed riders each stage. The team with the most points after stage 7 wins.
Adaptive
Adaptive · new in 2026
750 km, on an adaptive bike
In 2025 Bryce Carter finished the full race on a Bowhead handcycle.
Each adaptive rider starts with a support rider, and this year Swiss Paralympic champion and World Marathon Majors legend Manuela Schär will ride with her brother, Ivo.
For 2026, thanks to the generous support of MetCon, we have introduced additional services so that more adaptive riders can take part, including travel and logistics before the race, adaptive bike transport, accessible ablutions in the Burn Camps and battery support on the route, amongst others.
Night Burn
An after-dark chase fired up by Red Bull, at Shamwari on the penultimate night. Riders qualify in the Red Bull KM on Stage 4, then try to stay ahead of “The Fox”, Henrique Avancini. The Night Burn is not part of the general classification and is entirely optional, and only a limited number of riders (30) qualify. There are two races: the Legends Race, and the main event, Chase the Fox, for which mainly amateur riders qualify.
Questions
What does it take to finish?
A week of non-technical gravel. It’s less demanding than a mountain bike stage race, but the fatigue adds up day after day. A moderately fit cyclist, or someone with a solid background in another endurance sport, can finish it with preparation: work on your bunch-riding skills and plan on 12 or more hours of training a week for six months.
You don’t have to be a racer. Many riders come for the adventure: a week of riding through the Karoo, the camaraderie of the Burn Camps and the satisfaction of reaching Shamwari. More in our training and preparation stories.
Is it a solo race or 2-person teams?
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a solo race. Riders who want to compete for prize money enter the Pro category. Age Group riders race for the leader’s jersey in their age group: 19–34, then 5-year bands from 35.
Pro riders can also race as part of a team of three or four in the Teams Classification. See the Teams Classification.
How long are the stages?
Stages range from 61 km (Stage 4) to 137 km (Stage 3), with 550–1,550 m of climbing a day. Each stage has its own character. See the Route for every stage.
Will GPX files be shared?
Yes: official GPX files are handed out to riders at registration in Graaff-Reinet, so there’s only ever one version on the day. The course is fully marked, but loading the GPX files onto your GPS device is strongly recommended in case weather or wildlife interferes with the signage.
Do I need a racing licence?
South African and Namibian riders need valid Cycling South Africa (CSA) annual membership covering the race dates. International riders need a licence from their home federation, or a CSA day licence for each stage, available on the CSA website.