Gravel Burn 2026: These stars will be competing in the second Gravel Race in South Africa

Two-time Olympic champion Tom Pidcock is indeed set to compete in South Africa once again. Although the Briton had already taken part in the inaugural edition of the gravel stage race last year, he simply drifted along in the mid-pack without any apparent ambition at the time. He says he is only in South Africa by chance, as he is currently on holiday here with his fiancée.

Total prize money of 150,000 dollars

When asked what he’d enjoyed most about the new race format, Pidcock replied after the race: “Life at the camp – including an evening beer by the campfire.” It’s all the more surprising, then, that he’ll be competing again in 2026. Whether he’ll be in holiday mode once more or is there for the hefty prize money totalling $150,000 is something his rivals will probably only find out when they arrive on the day.

In fact, the camp could once again prove to be one of the biggest challenges for the professional elite, as the ‘self-catering’ principle applies to them here too: technical support, tents and meals are provided by the organisers. However, participants have to look after their own bags and do their own washing – which became an increasingly daunting task given the rain, hail and mud of the first edition.

The new regulations for 2026

Whilst only individual riders took part last year, this year there will also be a team classification – based on the format of the BIKE Transalp and Cape Epic. Up to four riders may register as a team.

In addition, an ‘Adaptive Bike’ category is being introduced for the first time. This is a separate class for wheelchair users and hand cyclists. Such a start was also Tarek Rasouli was recently reflecting on his Transalp ride with Danny MacAskill returned. However, it will be too late for him to register as well. For safety reasons, the start list has been limited to a maximum of 500 participants. But a larger field would simply place too great a burden on the organisers. After all, even with this year’s route, the entire camp has to be dismantled every two days and set up again at the next stage location.

Anyone who still wants to try for a place in the race can put their name on the waiting list. Or they might prefer to watch the pros on their journey through the South African Karoo Desert on screen once again. The list of stars from the road cycling, mountain biking, cyclo-cross and gravel biking scenes is already a long one:

Gravel Burn 2026 – the men’s professional start list

• ​Henrique Avancini – the two-time mountain bike marathon world champion from Brazil is making his debut at Gravel Burn.
• Lachlan Morton – the Australian crowd favourite circumnavigated his home continent in 30 days last year (14,210 km)
• Thomas Pidcock – Will the double Olympic champion (MTB) and 9th-placed rider in the 2026 Tour de France go on the attack this time, or would he prefer to enjoy a holiday at the training camp again?
• Jakob Fuglsang The 41-year-old Dane had already brought his top-level career in mountain biking and road cycling to a close, but now wants to give it another go on a gravel bike in the Karoo Desert.
• Simon Pellaud The Swiss professional road cyclist finished second last year and, following a strong season, is now looking to take his revenge in South Africa.
• Andreas Seewald – The German mountain biker has been a regular winner of the marathon world championship title for the past few years and will be teaming up with Lukas Baum hold their own at the front of the pack at the Gravel Burn too.
• Matt Beers The local hero won the race last year and will be determined to defend his title with everything he’s got. His knowledge of the area is, of course, a major advantage.
• Kohei Yamamoto The Japanese mountain bike legend is now 41 years old and wants to give it his all once again on a gravel bike.

The starting list for the women’s professional race

26 women from the world of professional cycling have registered for the Gravel Burn. This is as unfortunate as it is surprising, because: 92 women lined up at the start of the race’s inaugural edition, and female participants in the Gravel Burn receive the same prize money as the men. Nevertheless, this year’s line-up still features some top-class international female riders. Here is a selection:

• Alison Jackson (CAN) – The charismatic winner of Paris-Roubaix Femmes brings immense strength in sprints and the classics to the race.
• Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) – South Africa’s cycling legend and one of the world’s best female climbers is among the absolute favourites on home soil.
• Rosa Klöser (GER) – The formidable German top rider is right up there with the international gravel elite. At the last European Gravel Championships, only a mechanical fault prevented her from making it onto the podium.
• Clara Koppenburg (GER) – Another German road cyclist with exceptional climbing ability who has joined the Tudor Gravel Team this year.
• Lauren Stephens (USA) – The experienced US gravel champion will not be going into the race unprepared.
• Hayley Preen & Cherise Willeit (RSA) – A strong South African local duo who know the desert terrain inside out.
• Other international competitors: Haley Smith (CAN), Melisa Rollins (USA), Whitney Allison (USA), Ruth Astle (UK) and Jana Gigele (AUT).

The Gravel Burn Route 2026

I am checking the official route and stage details for 2026. According to the official stage schedule, the 2026 Gravel Burn will run from 25 to 31 October, covering seven stages from Graaff Reinet through the Great Karoo to the Shamwari Game Reserve. Three stages are looped routes, meaning that the riders will stay at the same camp a second time on each occasion.

• Stage 1, 25 October: Graaff Reinet – Blaauwater. 90 kilometres, 1,450 metres of elevation gain. Right at the start, the route climbs up to Conical Peak, before a rough descent leads to the first camp.
• Stage 2, 26 October: Blaauwater – Blaauwater. 111 kilometres, 1,450 metres of elevation gain. The circular route takes in, amongst other places, the Sneeuberg Nature Reserve and Nieu-Bethesda.
• Stage 3, 27 October: Blaauwater – Merino. 137 kilometres, 1,550 metres of elevation gain. The longest stage takes you over the Wapadsberg Pass and ends after the climb to the Swaershoek Pass.
• Stage 4, 28 October: Merino – Merino. 61 kilometres, 550 metres of elevation gain. The short circuit should provide an opportunity for a faster, tactical race.
• Stage 5, 29 October: Merino – Gwanishi. 128 kilometres, 1,050 metres of elevation gain. The route continues through the remote Karoo along gravel roads and farm tracks.
• Stage 6, 30 October: Gwanishi – Shamwari. 76 kilometres of racing, 700 metres of elevation gain. This is followed by a 33-kilometre non-scored connecting stage into the game reserve.
• Stage 7, 31 October: Shamwari – Shamwari. 82 kilometres, 1,250 metres of elevation gain. The final stage is a circuit through the reserve, which is also home to elephants, rhinos and lions. (gravel-burn.com)

Information: gravel-burn.com

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