Gravel Burn 2025 event guide | Page 49

and water bars. It’ s another rhythmbreaker, in the truest sense. Few will feel comfortable here and pacing is crucial. Mentally, it could be the hardest climb of the week.

A quick descent leads into the flatter midsection of the stage – a 13km paved stretch. It’ s smooth, fast, but deceptive. Riders will be tempted to push the pace here and average speeds will rise. Sitting in the wheels takes as much awareness as it does

STAGE 6

R357

Tarka-Botha

MERINO pulling on the front. A blend of focus, cooperation and measured efforts will be essential – a recurring theme of the week.

As the stage reaches the finale there is a short climb. After 130km of racing, it could well be the most consequential rise of the day. The cumulative fatigue of the week is real for all and if those skirting the edge of their limits haven’ t been found out yet, they will here.

N10

R63

OVERNIGHT STOP: GWANISHI CAMP

You’ d be forgiven for asking“ where am I?” when you reach the Burn Camp in Gwanishi at the end of stage 6. Truthfully, in the wider scheme of things, you’ re in the middle of nowhere, although not too far from the tiny town of Bedford.

Gwanishi is the isiXhosa word for spekboom, an incredibly hardy smallleaved succulent indigenous to the Eastern Cape, although widely used across South Africa. It’ s a waterwise choice for gardens, can be used to feed livestock in times of drought, and is used to treat exhaustion, heatstroke and various skin ailments in traditional medicine. It also has a huge capacity to store carbon, making it an integral component of carbon-reducing environmental projects worldwide.

STAGE 6

144km 17OOm 25OOm

0km 10km 20km 30km 40km 50km 60km 70km 80km 90km 100km 110km 120km 130km 144km

13 % PAVED 87 % UNPAVED PADSTAL TECHNICAL DESCENT SUMMIT

49 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN