Gravel burn 2025

[DuToit Van Den Bergh]

@milky4130 🤣 Thank you!

I have a "can't say no"  problem, but luckily/unlucky I have filled my diary with other commitments. 

Edited October 6, 2025 by DuToit Van Den Bergh

[babse]

Extreme weather? Surely not... Should be perfect in my view. Still very much chilled part of the year

[gtr1]

Rider Number	Name	Surname	Nationality
1	Lachlan	Morton	Australia
2	Tom	Pidcock	UK
3	Andreas	Seewald	Germany
4	Matthew	Beers	South Africa
5	Marco	Joubert	South Africa
6	Lukas	Poestlberger	Austria
7	Brennan	Wertz	USA
8	Koen	Bouwman	Netherlands
9	Lukas	Baum	Germany
10	Alex	Miller	Namibia
11	Ivar	Slik	Netherlands
12	Chad	Haga	USA
14	Peter	Stetina	USA
15	Simon	Pellaud	Switzerland
16	Mat	Stephens	USA
17	Ramon	Sinkeldam	Netherlands
18	Bradyn	Lange	USA
19	Payson	McElveen	USA
22	Georg	Egger	Germany
23	Travis	Stedman	South Africa
24	Martin	Freyer	Namibian
25	Alistair	Brownlee	UK
26	Cam	Wurf	Australia
27	Johan	van Zyl	South Africa
28	Hugo	Drechou	France
29	Andrew	L’esperance	Canada
30	Paul	Sandmann	Germany
31	Lawrence	Naessen	Belgium
32	Tristan	Nortje	South Africa
33	Andri	Frischknecht	Switzerland
34	Griffin	Easter	USA
35	Jasper	Ockeloen	Netherlands
36	Drikus	Coetzee	Namibian
37	Zachary	Allison	USA
38	Daniel	Bonello	Malta
40	Lawrence	Carpenter	Great Britain
41	Lood	Goosen	South Africa
42	Robert	Gesink	Netherlands
43	Rudi	Koen	South Africa
44	Andy	Lydic	USA
45	Luis	Neff	Germany
46	Carl	Pasio	South Africa
47	Peter	Schermann	Germany
48	Jordan	Schleck	Uganda
49	Rogan	Smart	South Africa
50	Justin	Weeks	USA
51	Ismael	Ventura	Spain
52	Philipp	Rindler-Bachl	Austria
53	Bernard Ndungu	Njoroge	Kenya

[Bub Marley]

That is a proper stacked field. 

[dave303e]

On 10/3/2025 at 1:02 PM, Julian.Robinet said:

The timing of the event presents a serious risk of unpleasant and potentially dangerous conditions though. Given the typical wind direction and temperatures for that time of year, the weather will likely be far from ideal for all seven days. Frankly, if a non professional participant isn't 100% fit and trained to ride 4–6 hours on gravel daily , a DNF is practically guaranteed. Would be interesting to know if a time cut exist.

Has the organizing crew actually completed a full test of the route? To my knowledge, it has only been ridden in segments of three stages at a time.
Sending out participants essentially as guinea pigs is a an interesting choice. I sincerely hope everyone is prepared for the extreme weather that can strike the area in summer. Dealing with an unexpected thunderstorm or 40∘C+ heat is difficult. Just have a look at the forecast for the next couple of days in the area and think we are still 3 weeks out...

I would be genuinely surprised if more than 50% of the starters actually finish. Specifically, those final three stages, likely heading straight into a strong headwind, sound brutal and will certainly not be a fun way to end the week.

sounds like a good event to me, teaspoon of cement and a bit of vasbyt, what is the issue?

[dave303e]

That is a pretty incredible field especially for a first event. 

The more you look at the list the better it gets, some top end triathletes in the mix as well

[Sid the Sloth]

18 hours ago, William1 said:

I may have an Entry available 

If this is the William I know I hope you don’t, but if you do we need to continue our chat 🤣

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, dave303e said:

That is a pretty incredible field especially for a first event. 

The more you look at the list the better it gets, some top end triathletes in the mix as well

ja. brownlee coming to play too

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/DPf_lGHDKSI/

[Shebeen]

16 hours ago, Julian.Robinet said:

I really hope to be proven wrong. I just haven ridden a lot there... don't think many know what they are in for.
The routes are very exposed and the weather on the day can make a massive difference but I really hope everyone has a great event and get's to call himself a real gravel rider after! 

cool.

 

Rumour upfront was that there was a plan to do some serious roadgrading on the route right before stages. anyone know if that still the case?

Because we all know sinkplaat is no longer sinkplaat if you have a large yellow vehicle, some diesel and an upcoming byelection. 

 

 

[WaynejG]

13 hours ago, gtr1 said:

Rider Number	Name	Surname	Nationality
1	Lachlan	Morton	Australia
2	Tom	Pidcock	UK
3	Andreas	Seewald	Germany
4	Matthew	Beers	South Africa
5	Marco	Joubert	South Africa
6	Lukas	Poestlberger	Austria
7	Brennan	Wertz	USA
8	Koen	Bouwman	Netherlands
9	Lukas	Baum	Germany
10	Alex	Miller	Namibia
11	Ivar	Slik	Netherlands
12	Chad	Haga	USA
14	Peter	Stetina	USA
15	Simon	Pellaud	Switzerland
16	Mat	Stephens	USA
17	Ramon	Sinkeldam	Netherlands
18	Bradyn	Lange	USA
19	Payson	McElveen	USA
22	Georg	Egger	Germany
23	Travis	Stedman	South Africa
24	Martin	Freyer	Namibian
25	Alistair	Brownlee	UK
26	Cam	Wurf	Australia
27	Johan	van Zyl	South Africa
28	Hugo	Drechou	France
29	Andrew	L’esperance	Canada
30	Paul	Sandmann	Germany
31	Lawrence	Naessen	Belgium
32	Tristan	Nortje	South Africa
33	Andri	Frischknecht	Switzerland
34	Griffin	Easter	USA
35	Jasper	Ockeloen	Netherlands
36	Drikus	Coetzee	Namibian
37	Zachary	Allison	USA
38	Daniel	Bonello	Malta
40	Lawrence	Carpenter	Great Britain
41	Lood	Goosen	South Africa
42	Robert	Gesink	Netherlands
43	Rudi	Koen	South Africa
44	Andy	Lydic	USA
45	Luis	Neff	Germany
46	Carl	Pasio	South Africa
47	Peter	Schermann	Germany
48	Jordan	Schleck	Uganda
49	Rogan	Smart	South Africa
50	Justin	Weeks	USA
51	Ismael	Ventura	Spain
52	Philipp	Rindler-Bachl	Austria
53	Bernard Ndungu	Njoroge	Kenya

Is this the entire field?

[Headshot]

Just now, WaynejG said:

Is this the entire field?

Just the people who really count to the organizers 🙂 

[WaynejG]

2 minutes ago, Headshot said:

Just the people who really count to the organizers 🙂 

Ok cool. I may be biased but there may be a surprise. Not saying he will win but I think my brother in law will mix it up with the sharp end of the field 

[Headshot]

19 minutes ago, WaynejG said:

Ok cool. I may be biased but there may be a surprise. Not saying he will win but I think my brother in law will mix it up with the sharp end of the field 

Give us a name!

[WaynejG]

2 minutes ago, Headshot said:

Give us a name!

Rowan Vorster. Doubt people will know him. Multiple ironman competitor and has been riding the Switzerland mountain passes in preparation. 

Edited October 7, 2025 by WaynejG

[gtr1]

43 minutes ago, WaynejG said:

Is this the entire field?

No. Just the pro field.

[the_roadie]

48 minutes ago, WaynejG said:

Rowan Vorster. Doubt people will know him. Multiple ironman competitor and has been riding the Switzerland mountain passes in preparation. 

He should do well in the water crossings then 😜. JK, that's super exciting! Only 3 weeks to go. Did my last looooong rides this weekend and now just shorter efforts and hoping to stay healthy.