Gravel burn 2025

[Mamil]

46 minutes ago, Eugene Oppelt said:

That'll warm me up and dry my throat in the dusty altitude of the Karoo landscape. Today was the queen stage, I think, with that speed bump to the chequered flag.

How Matt Beers defy gravity and only lose a 100 seconds thereabouts to the mountain Goat Tom Pidcock - incredulous.

I think these numbers might have had something to do with it

 

[Shebeen]

1 hour ago, Eugene Oppelt said:

That'll warm me up and dry my throat in the dusty altitude of the Karoo landscape. Today was the queen stage, I think, with that speed bump to the chequered flag.

How Matt Beers defy gravity and only lose a 100 seconds thereabouts to the mountain Goat Tom Pidcock - incredulous.

wow, there was a whole lotta tar today, and a then a p#$%*lap to finish

[Chrisjanopsyfiets]

I have been reliably told that the last climb was brutal! 

Edited October 30, 2025 by Chrisjanopsyfiets

[SSCC]

On 10/29/2025 at 10:13 AM, Julian.Robinet said:

I think for south african riders the cost and the fact that the Kevin and his team took "inspiration" from other events that those riders attend and blatantly copied did not resonate too well... Look at local races like Tour of Ara, The Gallows, The Ceder, Road to Desolation, Tanqua Kuru and Stanford 100. And the Night burn last night is a replica of the the Mother Amateur Cycling Club Dust event. - Concept, Routes and aesthetics have been copied and sold to big brands to build a new epic. - Copy paste...

I think he saw the potential in this format but saying he copied those events is a bit much. I’ve done most of the races on your list and gravel burn is nothing like them. The OG gravel race in the western Cape (drop bar) is the Tour of Ara followed up Karoobaix. All of the events you listed took inspiration from what Stan started and added their own flavor to it. 

I think we should rather celebrate the fact that we have another race rather than criticize. I’m probably never going to do gravel burn but I’m happy it exists. 

[jcza]

Update from the camp somewhere outside Cradock. Very hot today on the climb to the finish. Garmin registered 44c. Long tar section but into a headwind. 
My thoughts. It’s tougher than I expected. Understand why people fit suspension forks and 50/2.0 tyres to gravel bikes. 
Day 1 was brutal with rain and cold. 
Don’t have the numbers but so many international riders here. 
Longest stage tomorrow, I thought it is the queen stage then onto Swamwari. 
I’m riding with mates and it’s been superb. The amount of work that has gone into this is crazy. Some teething problems but nothing has been a crisis. With all due respect to Stan you cannot compare this to Karoobaix. 

[Eugene Oppelt]

📸 @gravel_burn

Stage 6: 144 kms | 1700m vert today

[SSCC]

11 hours ago, jcza said:

With all due respect to Stan you cannot compare this to Karoobaix. 

No one’s comparing them. 

[Paul Ruinaard]

I must admit i have been following this race and have been thoroughly enjoying it. I reckon this one is going to explode as well next year and have tons of foreign interest. There is something about the Karoo riding that is completely unique and as per the Epic the weather always throws a curve ball in to it. Well done to kevin on putting it all together. Many ideas may be borrowed but it takes big kahunas to glue it all together and put this on. Thats what I admire. 

Kevin Vermaak if you are listening to us or reading the comments you need to do it over a full moon week in the karoo and include a night stage with full moon in it - especially on 31st October. I have always wanted to do a night ride on a full moon night in the middle of the Karoo or a desert when one of those blood red moons rises over the horizon.

Throw in a couple of tokoloshies and headless horseman or two and you may inspire some personal bests in the backmarkers....

[Shebeen]

15 hours ago, SSCC said:

I think he saw the potential in this format but saying he copied those events is a bit much. I’ve done most of the races on your list and gravel burn is nothing like them. The OG gravel race in the western Cape (drop bar) is the Tour of Ara followed up Karoobaix. All of the events you listed took inspiration from what Stan started and added their own flavor to it. 

I think we should rather celebrate the fact that we have another race rather than criticize. I’m probably never going to do gravel burn but I’m happy it exists. 

the business case for this event is enhanced by what appears to be a successful GB, I'm sure they are (both) looking at their spreadsheets for entry numbers and pricing -

https://dryland.co.za/garden-route-giro-dryland-introduce-6-stage-gravel-race/ (but maybe a bit of a date overlap in 2026)

 

and if you have to compare to any events that have come before - it builds on what works. From my perspective the original bells and whistles gravel stage race would be this one that was not even on the list - and again I see the market looking at this through new eyes

https://dirtysouthevents.co.za/

 

[BuffsVintageBikes]

Today's stage has been neutralized up to the first water point due to strong winds.

[Headshot]

16 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

the business case for this event is enhanced by what appears to be a successful GB, I'm sure they are (both) looking at their spreadsheets for entry numbers and pricing -

https://dryland.co.za/garden-route-giro-dryland-introduce-6-stage-gravel-race/ (but maybe a bit of a date overlap in 2026)

 

and if you have to compare to any events that have come before - it builds on what works. From my perspective the original bells and whistles gravel stage race would be this one that was not even on the list - and again I see the market looking at this through new eyes

https://dirtysouthevents.co.za/

 

The GRG @R29k exclusive accom...eina

[Dobri]

54 minutes ago, Shebeen said:

the business case for this event is enhanced by what appears to be a successful GB, I'm sure they are (both) looking at their spreadsheets for entry numbers and pricing -

https://dryland.co.za/garden-route-giro-dryland-introduce-6-stage-gravel-race/ (but maybe a bit of a date overlap in 2026)

 

and if you have to compare to any events that have come before - it builds on what works. From my perspective the original bells and whistles gravel stage race would be this one that was not even on the list - and again I see the market looking at this through new eyes

https://dirtysouthevents.co.za/

 

Thank you for the info on the Dirty South gravel event, looks really nice and exceptionally well priced. I will follow them if they have similar events next year. 

I was seriously looking at GB and the GRG but I just cannot justify spending so much money to ride on open gravel roads. For the same price I can go and ski for 10 days in EU! 

[TheDogShow]

Know this is the GB thread, but just on GRG, I don't think they've gotten it right with pricing when measured against GB. For GRG, R29k to ride mostly publicly available gravel roads without including the cost of accommodation and meals. If you start adding that up, you're probably not far from the GB pricing. If you then compare the two events, the level of professionalism, international participation and interest, full service etc. just puts GB on a totally different level for a not too dissimilar total cost. Struggle to see GRG attracting huge interest at that price point. They had an opportunity to go with an event that is a lot more cost effective whilst still getting a gravel stage race on great roads. And they missed it. IMHO.

[Shebeen]

10 minutes ago, TheDogShow said:

Know this is the GB thread, but just on GRG, I don't think they've gotten it right with pricing when measured against GB. For GRG, R29k to ride mostly publicly available gravel roads without including the cost of accommodation and meals. If you start adding that up, you're probably not far from the GB pricing. If you then compare the two events, the level of professionalism, international participation and interest, full service etc. just puts GB on a totally different level for a not too dissimilar total cost. Struggle to see GRG attracting huge interest at that price point. They had an opportunity to go with an event that is a lot more cost effective whilst still getting a gravel stage race on great roads. And they missed it. IMHO.

ja. agreed. i was wrong above, their event is April 2026 so this is peak selling window for them. The base price seems too much to really get the numbers. will see what transpires.

 

I think you can comment on GRG here. 

Because this is the Dryland logo, remind you of anything?

Edited October 31, 2025 by Shebeen

[Shebeen]

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3I2M_jIvu/?hl=en

 

in unrelated news, I was not aware that Ollie is doing it on this Avalanche Dust. probably a whole bunch of Titans that also cost less than the weeks' entry fee.

[Spafsack]

1 minute ago, Shebeen said:

https://www.instagram.com/p/DP3I2M_jIvu/?hl=en

 

in unrelated news, I was not aware that Ollie is doing it on this Avalanche Dust. probably a whole bunch of Titans that also cost less than the weeks' entry fee.

True that, Ollies rig costs less than 35k as is, full carbon, carbon rims, bargain actually.