Interview with Markus Weinberg: How do you prepare for a race like the Gravel Burn?

500 riders will line up at the start in South Africa on 25 October. The second edition of Gravel Burn is coming up: 7 days and 700 kilometres through the Karoo Desert. Riders will spend the nights in a tented camp, eat by the campfire, and personal support staff are not permitted. In the first edition of this race, amateur cyclists and international elite riders from the MTB and road cycling scenes battled not only against thick dust and the heat, but also torrential rain and hailstorms. A scenario that didn’t deter the adventurer and filmmaker Markus Weinberg from Dresden, but rather piqued his curiosity. He managed to secure a starting place for the second edition of Gravel Burn from 25 to 31 October, but is now becoming increasingly nervous:

I’d be surprised if I couldn’t make the most of my expertise

​BIKE: Markus, it all kicks off in just under two weeks. 697 kilometres and 8,100 metres of elevation gain across 7 stages through the South African Karoo Desert. On a scale of 1 to 10, how nervous are you ahead of your start in the Gravel Burn?

Markus Weinberg: Anticipation is the greatest joy. Mounting nerves, on the other hand, are rather a nuisance. Unfortunately, I’m feeling a bit of that this time, as my fitness level leaves something to be desired. After a few days, however, I’ll have settled into the rhythm and the routine will take care of things. The kilometres I’ve clocked up over the years will tell my brain to draw on that experience. Then the necessary composure should set in. In fact, the race is so unique in its nature and format that I’m really looking forward to it.

Having taken part in the Cape Epic a few years ago, you know what to expect: heat, bumpy tracks and loads of dust. How do you train for something like that at home?

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been trying to consistently cycle to all my appointments and run all my errands at home. A quick trip from Dresden to Leipzig, to Saxon Switzerland, to the Czech Republic – and I’ve tried not to skip my regular training rides with my sports group any more than necessary. When I was really short of time, I’d at least go for an interval session lasting an hour to an hour and a half. But I wasn’t able to train consistently in the run-up to the race. I’d describe the form I’m in now as improvised.

Where do you expect the biggest differences to be between the Cape Epic on a mountain bike and the Gravel Burn on a gravel bike?
The Cape Epic was exceptionally well organised. That’s likely to be the case here as well. After all, Cape Epic founder Kevin Vermaak launched the Gravel Burn last year. However, the focus here now seems to be on an exclusive experience, as spectators will see practically nothing apart from the starting gun and the final stage, The race takes place in the wilderness of South Africa’s Karoo Desert, with camping for all participants – whether they’re amateurs or Olympic champions. It’s going to be exciting.

Last year, after the first Gravel Burn event, Karl Platt said: “Next time, I’ll fit wider tyres and a suspension fork.” Are you planning something similar?

Oh, I can’t say just yet. As for the bike, I’ll just have to wait and see, because to save on the cost of transporting it, I’ll be hiring one locally. I’ll find out which bike I end up with when the time comes.

Last year, the riders were unexpectedly faced with torrential rain and even hail. The problem is that the riders have to wash their own clothes at the camps. This proved to be a real challenge, particularly for the professionals, who are usually supported by staff for such tasks. Is that a problem for you?

I’ve been out and about in the great outdoors my whole life, ever since I was a child. In the early days, it was climbing, camping in the wild and campfires. Later on, I joined the Scouts and the Wandervogel, and went on week-long backpacking trips. Then a year hitchhiking through Africa, and after my active sporting days I discovered a love of bikepacking. This has included the odd self-supported race such as the Tour Divide, the Silk Road Mountain Race and, last year, my European Connection Trail. I’d be very surprised if I couldn’t put one or two of my skills to good use there. I’ll be prepared: I’m taking a tube of travel-sized hand wash and plenty of chain wax. This is exactly the sort of adventure I’m looking forward to – and everyone’s going to have to go through it too.

The now-confirmed start list features some real top names from the MTB and road cycling scenes. Where do you rank amongst the field at Gravel Burn?

I’ve definitely signed up for the recreational riders’ starting block. We did the same at the Cape Epic and then moved up one starting block each day. On the last day, we were right at the front in Karl Platt’s group. Hopefully it’ll be the same again at the Gravel Burn – that would be an extra bit of daily motivation.

Markus, thank you very much for the interview. We wish you every success in the race and are keeping our fingers crossed for you!