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Big Efforts Equal Big Rewards at Nedbank Gravel Burn; $155 000 on the Line

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Big Efforts Equal Big Rewards at Nedbank Gravel Burn; $155 000 on the Line

The racing at the Nedbank Gravel Burn is hot, so it’s fitting that the medals and trophies are forged by fire. When all is said and done, when the dust has settled, and when the last embers of the final Burn Camp have been extinguished, the race winners will walk away with dazzling reminders of the intense effort required to succeed at a seven-day gravel race. 

This year, the overall prize purse at the Nedbank Gravel Burn sits at $155 000, split evenly between the pro men and pro women. With opportunities to claim overall prize money and stage prize money – and a $2500 prize for the best overall climber – the top men and women riders could potentially enjoy a healthy payday at the conclusion of the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn.   

“Not only is this an incentive to race with heart and guile for seven days,” says founder Kevin Vermaak, “but it also shows the commitment of the Nedbank Gravel Burn to reward our best riders equally. The top riders are out there, in the wild, throwing everything they can at the race, and the prize money recognises the intensity the men and women bring to the racing.” A further $2500 per winning rider is also on offer in the Toyota Power Climber competition (for the top climber of the week). 

For the winners’ medals, the theme of fire, grit, and gold was incorporated by makers MetCon, the largest privately-owned precious metal refinery in South Africa. Only six have been made: gold, silver and bronze for the men’s podium, and the same three for the women.

Manufactured in-house in South Africa from 999.9 fine silver, each medal weighs 180g. First-place medals are plated in gold, second-place medals in rhodium and third-place medals in red gold. MetCon puts the approximate value of each finished medal at R30 000, including manufacturing, with the valuation subject to the daily silver price.

Making the medals took seven stages: design, tooling, casting, plating, polishing, quality control, and packaging. “Every stage was done carefully and with no shortcuts, because seven stages of racing deserve seven stages of craft,” says Grant Crosse of MetCon. “Each medal is presented in a handcrafted wooden box by Donkey Long Tong with a MetCon nameplate, along with a Certificate of Analysis and a story booklet about the full making-of story. The medals are made to be kept for life.”

And it doesn’t stop there. With extreme racing comes true reward at the Nedbank Gravel Burn. The overall Pro Men’s and Pro Women’s champions will receive the Fire Starter, created by South African fire-tool makers Donkey Long Tong in collaboration with MetCon. Each Fire Starter also incorporates a 42g ring of 24-carat gold, with black ceramic inlay tracing the route’s elevation profile.

Deeply rooted in South Africa’s history, gold remains an enduring symbol of worth. Incorporating this precious metal ensures the award carries tangible value alongside its athletic prestige. Victorious riders may choose to retain the piece or cash it in at market rates, which fluctuate over time. 

Handmade using titanium, brass, Karoo olienhout and ostrich leather, the Fire Starter is a working piece of art. At the closing ceremony, the two champions will use their trophies to light the ceremonial fire.

After a week of watching each other’s wheels, they can finally get on with the serious business of celebrating. Donkey Long Tong’s involvement also includes a Nedbank Gravel Burn special-edition Jack Sack. The South African company’s handmade leather bag is designed to carry fire and braai tools, keeping the partnership connected to the fireside gatherings that are part of Burn Camp life. 

Every age-group winner will also receive a Fire Starter, with a titanium shaft and the same practical purpose. Winning a category earns a trophy that can still be put to work around a fire years later.

For everyone who completes the race, a finisher medal on a hand-woven Xhosa ribbon marks their own journey to Shamwari Private Game Reserve. 

Follow the race: information, daily results, stories and highlights at www.gravel-burn.com 

See Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 startlist HERE

About Nedbank Gravel Burn

Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven-day, 750km gravel stage race set entirely in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Starting in the historic Robert Sobukwe Town / Graaff-Reinet, the race journeys deep into remote semi-desert landscapes, with all riders staying together in the purpose-built Burn Camps. The route spans the Great Karoo and concludes in Big 5 territory at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Designed as a true pro-am experience, Nedbank Gravel Burn brings elite and age-group riders together in a shared journey defined by scale, remoteness and connection.

Nedbank Gravel Burn and Open Cycles Brand Collab Announced – Limited Edition Open WIDE 2.0

Tanika LaskeyNewsLeave a Comment on Nedbank Gravel Burn and Open Cycles Brand Collab Announced – Limited Edition Open WIDE 2.0

Nedbank Gravel Burn has partnered with pioneering bike company Open Cycles to create a Limited Edition Nedbank Gravel Burn x Open WIDE 2.0 bike package. Born out of a longtime friendship between respective founders, this collaboration represents their intersecting philosophies – both pushing the frontiers of innovation, adventure and competition in the growing gravel category. 

Open Cycles supported the event during its initial development phase, providing a fleet of Open WIDE 1.0 bikes for route testing across the demanding Karoo terrain. Following the successful performance of the platform, the friendship and partnership has expanded into an official product co-development initiative.

Nedbank Gravel Burn founder, Kevin Vermaak said, “Andy and I have been friends for 14 years and Open supported us even before we’d actually launched the event. They helped us by providing 10 gravel bikes for our test riders to try out some proposed routes – our Trial Burn in 2014. They handled the rigours of the Karoo superbly. Recently, Open launched their new WIDE 2.0 and we agreed that a collab would be a great idea – a very special Limited Edition package.”

Open’s co-founder Andy Kessler said, “Two years ago Kevin told me about his idea of the race and he didn’t have to convince me of the idea for even a minute, and we became a ‘Founding Friend’ of the event. It all came together very last-minute, but I knew that if Kevin was building it, this would be an amazing adventure – and it is.”

Like with all their gravel offerings, Open’s new WIDE 2.0 pushes industry boundaries, combining aerodynamic features with race-ready geometry plus the ability to fit up to 66mm (2.6-inch) tyres – ready to tackle the toughest races.

Even after only one edition, the seven-day, 750km gravel stage race, held in South Africa’s Karoo region, is known as a “frontier-gravel” racing adventure experience, characterised by wild terrain and unpredictable conditions, including rugged road surfaces. The new Open WIDE 2.0 delivers the ideal bike solution for these conditions. The design provides a ride quality that better “insulates” the rider from the rough surfaces over seven consecutive days of racing.

Kessler said, “The collab model had to be the new WIDE 2.0 – the perfect bike, with generous tyre clearance ensuring more comfort on the rugged Karoo roads, while still being a genuinely fast race bike.”

The limited-edition frame features custom artwork inspired by the textures and palette of the Karoo landscape and the bonfires lit in the remote Burn Camps where riders congregate and share the experience, celebrating the unique aesthetic and identity of the event.

Vermaak said, “This livery features hand-painted details showing the textures of the Karoo, the hues of the gravel we ride on and the luminescence of the fires we sit beside at night – all reflecting on this unique journey we embark on each year.”

The Nedbank Gravel Burn Limited Edition Open WIDE 2.0 is offered as a complete package, including a custom-designed Open WIDE 2.0 with component spec tailored to individual rider preferences, exclusive Open x Nedbank Gravel Burn cycling kit made by Assos and one Nedbank Gravel Burn race entry, redeemable within three years. Package pricing from $11900 (US) and €11500. 

For complete info on the Open WIDE 2.0 model and specification options, visit opencycle.com. For further details and to order, contact Open Cycles co-founder Andy Kessler directly at [email protected].

For information on Nedbank Gravel Burn including race entries, visit www.gravel-burn.com

About Nedbank Gravel Burn

Nedbank Gravel Burn is a seven day, 750km gravel stage race set entirely in South Africa’s Eastern Cape. Starting in the historic Robert Sobukwe Town / Graaff Reinet, the race journeys deep into remote semi-desert landscapes, with all riders staying together in the purpose-built Burn Camps. The route spans the Great Karoo, concludes in Big 5 territory at Shamwari Private Game Reserve. Designed as a true pro-am experience, Nedbank Gravel Burn brings elite and amateur riders together in a shared journey defined by scale, remoteness and connection.

For media enquiries, please contact: Sarah Harrop at [email protected]

About Open Cycles

OPEN Cycle is a next generation bicycle brand founded by two bicycle industry pioneers and are guided by the philosophy of “working hard to stay small”. By stripping away corporate overheads and marketing noise, OPEN channels all its resources into pure product development and customer support – designing the bikes the team wants to ride and delivering them directly to riders and via independent bike shops. Learn more at www.opencycle.com 



Hyperice Named as The Official Recovery Technology Partner of Nedbank Gravel Burn

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Hyperice Named as The Official Recovery Technology Partner of Nedbank Gravel Burn

The Nedbank Gravel Burn today announced a new partnership with Hyperice, global leader in recovery and movement enhancement technology. As The Official Recovery Technology Partner of the 2025 race, Hyperice will deliver on-site recovery support to all riders through their award-winning Normatec 3 Recovery Boots & Hyperice Range, available daily and free of charge throughout the event.

All registered riders will benefit from a 30-minute Normatec recovery session via designated Hyperice Recovery Stations in each Burn Camp. Using dynamic air compression to boost circulation and combat muscle fatigue, the Normatec system delivers professional-grade recovery to help you stay fresh and strong through all seven days of racing.

“Rider experience is everything,” says Kevin Vermaak, Founder of Nedbank Gravel Burn. “I used the Normatec boots for the first time after the Kindling rides, and honestly, they amazed me. I actually started wondering whether it was the boots that made me feel so strong the next day. We want every rider to enjoy themselves as much as possible out there – and to do that, recovery is key.”

In addition to complimentary use, all registered riders will be eligible to purchase Normatec Recovery Boots at a special discounted rate directly from Hyperice. For those who buy a pair, Hyperice will provide full on-site support, including charging and transportation between stages. Riders will simply collect their boots each day from their allocated Recovery Station, and can use them wherever they like, whether at the recovery station, in their tent, or while winding down around the fire.

“The boots were in use from the moment the first riders were showered after the Kindling, right up into the evening around the campfire,” says Danielle Lopes, Sales & Marketing Manager at Hyperice South Africa. “Being able to relax with a hot drink and good company while actively recovering – that’s the kind of small detail that really makes a difference.”

The Nedbank Gravel Burn and Hyperice partnership brings elite-level recovery to every rider, reinforcing the event’s commitment to performance, health and enjoyment across one of the most demanding and memorable gravel races on the calendar.

About Hyperice

Hyperice is a global high-performance wellness brand specialising in technology-driven recovery solutions that help people move better. Founded in 2010, Hyperice has developed a suite of award-winning products — including Normatec dynamic air compression, Hypervolt percussion massage, and Venom heat and vibration technology — used by athletes, fitness professionals, and wellness enthusiasts in over 60 countries. The company’s mission is to help everyone on Earth move and live better, by unlocking the full potential of the body through science-backed innovation.

For more information, visit www.hyperice.co.za.

About Nedbank Gravel Burn 

Nedbank Gravel Burn is a 7-day, 800km gravel stage race through South Africa’s diverse landscapes. From lush coastal forests to the vast Great Karoo, riders enjoy remote camps under starry skies and conclude their journey at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, encountering Africa’s iconic Big 5 wildlife. The race inspires and challenges riders in equal measure.

For more information, visit Nedbank Gravel Burn’s official website www.gravel-burn.com.

Nedbank Gravel Burn: A New Era For Gravel Racing

Tanika LaskeyFeatures, NewsLeave a Comment on Nedbank Gravel Burn: A New Era For Gravel Racing

Gravel Burn is thrilled to welcome Nedbank as its Title Sponsor, marking the start of an exciting new chapter for the seven-day, 850km stage race—now officially known as Nedbank Gravel Burn. Set to take place from 26 October to 1 November 2025, this epic race will lead riders through some of South Africa’s most breathtaking and untamed landscapes.

This landmark five-year partnership underscores Nedbank’s deep commitment to cycling, backing a bold and innovative event with the potential to redefine gravel racing. With an unprecedented $150,000 prize purse—the largest single-event payout in gravel racing history—Nedbank Gravel Burn is set to make waves on the international stage. Coupled with world-class race production and an extensive global media strategy, the event is primed to attract top professional and amateur riders alike.

“Nedbank Gravel Burn represents an exciting evolution in cycling,” says Jason Quinn, Chief Executive of Nedbank. “This partnership aligns perfectly with our vision to drive positive change, foster economic growth, and create lasting impact. By supporting initiatives that reflect our values, we aim to empower individuals and position South Africa as a global leader in gravel racing.”

Kevin Vermaak, Founder of Gravel Burn, adds: “This race takes everything we’ve learned from stage racing and applies it to a fast-growing discipline. With Nedbank on board from day one, we have a unique opportunity to build something truly special—an event that challenges riders, showcases South Africa’s diverse landscapes, and earns its place on the international gravel calendar.”

But Nedbank Gravel Burn is more than just a race—it’s a journey through history and landscapes few have experienced. Riders will traverse ancient trails where dinosaurs once roamed, cross historic battlefields, and camp beneath the vast Karoo night sky—one of the darkest in the world. Off the bike, the race village comes alive with cultural storytelling, local hospitality, and camaraderie, ensuring every moment is part of something bigger.

The event’s Founding Sponsors—Toyota, Assos, ChemChamp, Shamwari, and WeWork—played a pivotal role in bringing this vision to life. As the first brands to back the race, they will always be recognised as the pioneers who helped shape a world-class gravel racing experience.

With an unmatched rider experience, the sport’s biggest prize purse, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries, Nedbank Gravel Burn is set to raise the bar for gravel racing worldwide.

About Nedbank Group

Nedbank Group is one of Africa’s largest banking groups, listed on the JSE Limited with a market capitalisation of R137bn as of 31 December 2024. Operating across South Africa, Namibia, Eswatini, Mozambique, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, as well as in key international financial centres like London and Dubai, Nedbank offers a comprehensive range of banking, insurance, asset management, and wealth management services. The group has maintained a level 1 BBBEE status for six consecutive years and ranks in the top quartile of local and international banks on ESG scores. Learn more at www.nedbankgroup.co.za.

About Gravel Burn

Gravel Burn is a seven-day, 850km gravel stage race that showcases South Africa’s extraordinary landscapes—from lush coastal forests to the vast Great Karoo. Riders experience remote camps under starlit skies and conclude their journey at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where they encounter Africa’s iconic Big 5 wildlife. More than just a race, Gravel Burn is an adventure that inspires and challenges riders in equal measure.

For more details, visit www.gravel-burn.com.