Gravel Burn 2025 event guide | Page 69

Sponsors: Lauf, Velocio DOB: 19 March 1998 | Age: 27 Top results: 1st 2025 UCI GWS Brazil; 1st 2024 UCI GWS Kenya; 2nd 2023 Migration Gravel Race; 3rd 2024 Migration Gravel Race

“ I love doing ridiculously long rides in a quest to find top bakeries. I once did a two-day bikepacking trip to France from Spain for a proper French croissant. I’ m excited for the community aspect of this event and chats around the campfire after a solid day’ s racing. I aim to do the best I can.”

Team: Imbuko ChemChamp Specialized DOB: 04 June 1997 | Age: 28 Top results: 2025 SA Gravel Champion; 3rd 2025 Cape Epic; stage win 2025 Cape Epic

“ Racing on instinct into the unknown excites me, so I’ m looking forward to the adventure into unknown territory. I’ d love to win a stage and to finish on the overall podium.”

Sponsors: Garmin | Rola Toyota DOB: 16 May 1991 | Age: 34 Top results: 5x SA XCO Champion; 4x African XCO Champion; podiums + stage wins Cape Epic; represented SA at 2014 + 2018 Commonwealth Games

“ Besides chasing podiums I’ m just keen to race my bike again. Taking something like this on as a solo event is both exhilarating and daunting. I’ m not sure what to expect but that’ s part of the splendour. I have a one-year-old so my breast pump will be one of my off-bike essentials.”

Team: Team Hollard Namibia DOB: 04 October 1995 | Age: 30 Top results: 2017 Namibian Road Champion; 2nd 2025 Namibian Road Championships; 2nd 2025 Namibian XCO Championships

“ I’ m looking forward to riding my bicycle through areas I’ ve never been before, racing among the best in the world, and that feeling of serenity as everything on your mind and shoulders fades away as your head gets locked into the racing and riding.”

Team: Cafe du Cycliste | Vittoria DOB: 07 June 2025 | Age: 43 Top results: 1st 2017 DK200 / Unbound, 1st 2017-2019 Barry- Roubaix; 2004 Madison National Champ

“ Cycling is never not challenging. There’ s always more to chase. Cool thing is, I’ ve been so many places on a bike. I’ m excited for a totally new challenge.”

Team: Specialized Off-Road – Toyota DOB: 10 January 1994 | Age: 31 Top results: 1st 2025 Lauf Gravel Worlds; 1st 2021, 2023 + 2024 Cape Epic; 1st 2024 + 2025 Belgian Waffle Ride California; 2nd 2025 Life Time Sea Otter Classic; 2022 + 2023 SA Gravel Champion

“ I’ m stoked for a big gravel race in my home country. I would like to win the inaugural event. I know the area and it’ s going to be both beautiful and challenging.”

Team: Liv Racing Collective DOB: 19 November 1995 | Age: 29 Top results: 1st 2025 SBT Gravel; 1st 2024 Leadville 100 MTB; 2nd 2024 Lifetime Grand Prix Series

“ My family has been racing Leadville since I was a kid( my mom has finished 20x and my dad has finished 27x), so winning that in 2024 was a definite career highlight. I’ ve never been to SA or done a stage race as long as this one. I’ m excited for an opportunity to explore a new country and I’ d like to contend for the win each day.”

DOB: 18 February 1993 | Age: 32 Top results: 2017 + 2018 US XCM Champion; 3rd 2024 Life Time Grand Prix Series; 1st 2019, 2020 + 2023 The Mid South Gravel Race

“ Throughout my career, it’ s stage races in unique and special places that have left the greatest impression, so I’ m really excited for the adventure and to see South Africa for the first time. I host a successful weekly podcast, one of the greatest joys in my life, so I’ ll have my mobile podcasting setup with me.”

Team: Embrace the World DOB: 05 January 1988 | Age 37 Top results: Top 10 in German Gravel Championships; Top 50 in World XCM Championships; German XCM Amateur Champion

“ I’ ve raced professional UCI races in over 30 countries, in road, MTB and gravel. I’ m looking forward to enjoying the nature at Nedbank Gravel Burn, having fun and racing hard. I’ m excited to lose my friend Dan’ s wheel and hear about it for the rest of my life!”

69 NEDBANK GRAVEL BURN