Nedbank Gravel Burn Features a New Course for 2026 | Take a Look at the Final Three Stages
The final three stages of Gravel Burn continue the journey of pure South African gravel, taking riders from Merino to the Shamwari Private Game Reserve. The second half of the route brings more gravel grinding, speed and changing terrain, with Night Burn adding to the intensity.
Merino to Gwanishi
Stage 5 - Five biomes converge
Race: 128km, 1050m ascent, 1800m descent
Liaison: 7km, 50m ascent, 70m descent
Stage 5 marks the entry into one of the most ecologically diverse botanical
zones on the planet. Five of South Africa’s seven distinct ecological biomes
converge in this corner of the Eastern Cape. Riders pass from open semi-arid
scrub into dense Albany Thicket dominated by Portulacaria afra (Spekboom),
an indigenous wonder plant capable of capturing massive amounts of carbon
while supporting a vibrant ecosystem of birds, kudu and wildlife.
The Ride:
The profile is deceptive. Stage 5 is a long, rolling affair that keeps riders working from start to finish. A sharp climb at the 107-kilometre mark promises some pain in deeply fatigued legs. Proceding weather dependent, the terrain is likely to be fast and smooth(ish) as the route follows the Great Fish River basin, crosses host farmer Carl’s dairy lands before a remote finish line at the classic Karoo windmill. Then riders roll into Gwanishi on a seven-kilometre liaison section. The scrubby Karoo gives way to greener subtropical thicket as the landscape changes and another chapter in the journey begins.
The Race:
With the race taking shape, riders out of General Classification contention will likely be given the freedom to make daring attacks. Across the relentless rolling power sectors of the river valleys, this is prime territory for bold long-range breakaways. Sharp racers will seize the opportunity to launch aggressive moves, forcing category leaders to make difficult decisions: mark them and spend valuable energy in a high-speed chase or sacrifice a stage win to save something for the weekend finale.
Gwanishi to Shamwari
Stage 6 - Big five gravel
Race: 76km, 700m ascent, 950m descent
Liaison: 33km, 500m ascent, 510m descent
Shamwari takes its name from the Shona word for “friend”. Inland from Gqeberha, near the village of Paterson, this 25 000-hectare reserve spans grassland, thicket and river valleys, and is home to the Big Five. Its mission is to restore the land to the ecosystem that existed before farming and hunting drove the wildlife out. Riders arrive after a challenging traverse of the Great Karoo into game country on Stage 6, sleep in the final Burn Camp inside the reserve and close off the week with a 82-kilometre loop.
The Ride:
A day of rare privilege – on Stage 6, the gates to Shamwari Private Game Reserve swing open for gravel bikes. Riders race through 76 kilometres of African bushveld and sprint for the line at a remote windmill. After a biosecurity stop, they’ll enjoy a 33-kilometre liaison section through game territory as rangers keep watch for predators. At camp, they’ll have a moment to recover before the festivities – Night Burn, an after-dark caper under the stars.
The Race:
The penultimate stage is a high-stakes battle across the rugged contours of the reserve. General Classification contenders will fight for every second over the punchy climbs, knowing that the chances of challenging for the win are running out. The pressure on the leaders is sure to be relentless as team strategies are expected to play a role in affairs along the game corridors ahead of Saturday’s final 82-kilometre test.
The Night Burn - Bonfires and floodlights
When darkness falls across the Eastern Cape on Friday night, the tranquil wilderness of Shamwari transforms into a roaring amphitheatre of dust, fire and speed. Night Burn is the headline spectacle of the Nedbank Gravel Burn: an under-the-stars criterium pursuit around the Shamwari Burn Camp, flat out through the sweeping dirt corners and illuminated chicanes. Old roles are reversed as qualifying riders play the part of hunted hounds while Red Bull’s two-time Marathon World Champion Henrique Avancini is this year’s fox, chasing down the riders with one simple rule – stay ahead of the fox. Avancini hunts down the field rider by rider as the crowd roars and flames leap into the African sky. Once caught, they are out. Massive bonfires ring the circuit, live DJ beats roll into the night and laser beams slice through the sky, while the crowds watch the field battle for survival beneath the African sky.
The Qualification Mechanic: Stage 4 Red Bull KM
There is no way to buy your way to the Night Burn starting grid. It must be earned on the road. Stage 4 to be exact. Qualification is decided exclusively on the Red Bull KM sprint segment. Using an indexed performance differential against overall GC ranking, the riders who outperform their General Classification baseline by the greatest margin punch their ticket directly into the firelit spotlight. It creates a uniquely democratic decider: focused age groupers, powerful privateers and diesel-engined campaigners line up alongside the world’s best for the thrill of a lifetime.
How the Pursuit Works:
1. The Qualification: The 1 000-metre gravel sprint on Stage 4 decides the grid. The top 30 to 40 riders with the biggest positive differential between their sprint rank and GC rank earn starting spots.
2. The Handicap: Qualifiers start in staggered waves into the illuminated Shamwari Boma circuit with a calculated time advantage.
3. The Hunt: World Champion Henrique Avancini starts last, throwing down maximum Watts in a flatout pursuit to catch the peloton before the chequered flag falls.
Shamwari to Shamwari
Stage 7 - Iconic African bushveld
Race: 82km, 1250m ascent, 1250m descent
The Eastern Cape is unique for its geographic compression: in less than 20 kilometres, the landscape transitions from arid semi-desert to temperate bushveld. Crossing the finish line at the windmill is the culmination of an African gravel adventure, celebrated with fire dancers, roaring fires and a connection with the land and the gravel community that lasts a lifetime.
The Ride:
The final stage brings the seven-day journey to a breathtaking ending. Having started the week in the dry semi-desert plains of Robert Sobukwe Town/Graaff-Reinet, riders are well and truly in game country, with one final challenge to go. After six days in the Karoo, the undulations will hurt more than the profile suggests. Yet from the 55-kilometre mark, the Karoo air will seem even more pure, the sky more blue and the fragrances of the wild more intense as riders soak up the final gravel miles before crossing the line at the iconic orange windmill to collect what is soon to become one of the most highly coveted finisher medals in cycling.
The Race:
The final clash, for two podiums – GC and a prestigious final stage win. Category leaders will defend their hard-won advantages over the week with all they have left. Four tough climbs characterise the day, the first kicking up at the six-kilometre mark. Considering the intervals of these obstacles and their intensity, the finale is unlikely to result in a mass sprint finish. Expect pure attrition, with only the strongest and wiliest riders at the front of affairs to claim the coveted stage victory.
Gravel Burn wraps up at the end of Stage 7, ensuring riders reach the finish line exhausted after seven gruelling days and 750 kilometres of rugged gravel. There is no doubt riders will feel accomplished as they roll beneath the iconic orange windmill.
