A visual-feast of the week that was the 2025 Gravel Burn
Gravel Burn is a 7-day, 800km gravel stage race from the lush coastal forests of Knysna into the Karoo and finishing at the Shamwari Game Reserve. It takes in some iconic climbs, showcases the region’s most diverse landscape and has riders camping under the stars each night. The 500-strong field is a mix of local and international, professionals and amateurs. Here’s your look back at the 2025 Gravel Burn.
The opening stage was always going to be a tough, fast and fullgas kinda day. Right from the start of the women’s race a select group slipped off the front.White socks were not the move.With 15km to go and the bulk of that distance climbing up the historic Prince Alfred’s Pass, Beers pulled away from the Pro field with Drechou and Frischknecht in tow. Beers would then take the stage too.Axelle Dubau-Prevot out-punched Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio and took the win in the women’s pro race.Post-stage priorities – in no particular order.The morning of Stage 2 and the temperatures were low.The Pro Women starting to split up on the 108km trek from Avontuur to Willowmore. The toil for traction.Stage winner Matt Beers: “Lukas set a super hard pace up the Shallot climb. It was really rough and I sort of slipped a little bit, but I was able to bridge the gap and Simon came with me. That was around 30km into the stage, and after that we stayed together all the way to the finish.”Even the best in the world did a little portage today.Brunch.Bunches were reduced to many small chase groups.... and medium sized ones.The trio at the head of the Pro Men’s race worked well together, stealing GC time on the rest.Axelle Dubau-Prevot took another win and extended her GC lead to 13 seconds.The cooldown.Stage 3, another chilly morning.Today they rolled 90km from Graaff Reinet to Blaauwater.The big guns of the Pro Men keeping a watchful eye on one another.Africa is punishing the bikes.Haley Smith maximizing aero.Age groupers taking their time at the feed zone.Simon Pellaud took the stage win today.Much cleaning required.Georg Egger, on the hunt during Stage 4.#sealantwarsGravel steeze.Mechanicals impacted the Pro Women’s race today which resulted in a GC shuffle.SA Champ Hayley Preen (61) and Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (obscured) moved into 3rd and 1st respectively, on the GC.After Stage 4, Matt Beers held a 57-second GC lead.A disconsolate Dubau-Prevot had to wipe away tears on the finish line. “I felt really good today,” she said. “I thought to myself, ‘Okay, I am really flying’. I think everyone knew that. I thought nothing could happen to me today, the way I was feeling. But yes, it happens. I am a bit sad now. I am tired. It was a long day. I punctured at 65km, then had to ride to the end alone, so it was tough out there. I had to keep myself calm and just focus on finishing. It was a terrible day for me.” Tomorrow is gonna hurt.On Stage 5, Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio finished third on the day and continues to lead the Pro Women’s general classification, with Melisa Rollins and Hayley Preen completing the top three overall.Dan Loubser, mid-race sits 9th Saffa and 23rd in the Pro Men’s GC.On Stage 5, Tom Pidcock claimed his first stage win of the 2025 Nedbank Gravel Burn, attacking late on the final climb of Swaershoek Pass to take victory ahead of Andreas Seewald and Simon Pellaud.Another stage, another braai.Ahead of Stage 6 and due to some extreme winds, riders were evacuated from their Lapa’s to a central meeting point in the Burn Camp for their safety. It was decided to delay the 7am start by an hour and neutralise the racing to Padstal 1 – water point – at 46km on the route.The wind continued to gust, making racing unsafe. After requests from the leading professionals the race commissaire decided to neutralise the entire stage.All the riders who started Stage 6 would be eligible to ride the final day.Pinners.Stage 7 gets underway.The Pro Men’s race hung in the balance, with Swiss rider Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) only 33 seconds behind Beers in the General Classification. Overnight leader Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio, started Stage 7 with a strong GC lead of 4:20 over Rollins, eventually finished fifth overall due to mechanical issues on the day. My bru.Sometimes they just won’t seal.T.I.A.Dubau-Prevot attacked with 30km to go, riding solo all the way to the finish line to claim the stage ahead of Stephens and the overall title ahead of second-placed Rollins.“It was a long time alone. But I had already said to Lauren this morning that I was prepared to die on the bike to get the win, so I just put my head down and pedalled. I am so happy to win, especially after what happened on Stage 4 with my puncture. I really thought it was all over, but I rode for myself and in the end it paid off.” – Axelle Dubau-PrevotWhat a win!As race favorite, Beers delivered an emphatic win.Johan van Zyl and Travis Stedman celebrate.“The Nedbank Gravel Burn definitely lived up to expectation,” – Matt BeersChapeau to all involved.
Results
Pro Women Final General Classification
1 Axelle Dubau-Prevot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 23:40:55 2 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +2:07 3 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +2:15 4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +2:44 5 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – +10:41
Pro Men Final GC
1 Matthew Beers – Specialized Off-Road Toyota – 19:01:03 2 Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +5:26 3 Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +8:56 4 Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +9:27 5 Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +10:41
