Gravel burn 2025

[Skubarra]

20 hours ago, Sid the Sloth said:

I am not paid to ride bike so I don't identify as a pro, unlike many of the other SA "pro" riders!

put the entry fee on the credit card and then use the prize money to pay it back, easy 🙃

[Jimmy 2.0]

sponsored, hand out entries or what ever. one thing Kevin has done in the past is create an international stage for mountain bike racing right here in SA!! He's helped put SA in the lime light for mountain bike racing and I'm pretty sure its going to be the same with Gravel Burn for Gravel racing. 

End of the day Grave Burn is a business.

Outside of Cape Epic, event entries are down. Sani2C use to be 3 events over a week. this year it was 2, Cape Pioneer trek was down this year, Trans Baviaans use to be back to back 2 weekends in a row due to so many people wanting to do it this year was only 1 weekend, Wines2Whales use to be fully booked in days when entries opened up this year they are still advertising entries. in order for Gravel burn to be successful they have to attract the overseas market.

[milky4130]

7 hours ago, Ozzie NL said:

You think that's a bad thing?

From where I sit, it is remarkable Kevin managed to get this many big names. Good on him!

No I dont think its a bad thing, apologies if you interpreted it that way. 

[Stephan]

8 hours ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

sponsored, hand out entries or what ever. one thing Kevin has done in the past is create an international stage for mountain bike racing right here in SA!! He's helped put SA in the lime light for mountain bike racing and I'm pretty sure its going to be the same with Gravel Burn for Gravel racing. 

End of the day Grave Burn is a business.

Outside of Cape Epic, event entries are down. Sani2C use to be 3 events over a week. this year it was 2, Cape Pioneer trek was down this year, Trans Baviaans use to be back to back 2 weekends in a row due to so many people wanting to do it this year was only 1 weekend, Wines2Whales use to be fully booked in days when entries opened up this year they are still advertising entries. in order for Gravel burn to be successful they have to attract the overseas market.

Mountain biking has never been more popular. There are now more events than ever before. The events entries are down in my opinion because fundamentally supply is outstripping demand. There is an oversupply of events for the already small subset of the mountain biking community who are interested racing I would say. 

[Bro Derek]

7 hours ago, Stephan said:

Mountain biking has never been more popular. There are now more events than ever before. The events entries are down in my opinion because fundamentally supply is outstripping demand. There is an oversupply of events for the already small subset of the mountain biking community who are interested racing I would say. 

There definitely are not more events than ever before

10 to 15 years ago you could race a marathon every weekend, do an Enduro race once a month, there were multiple stage race options... most of these don't exist anymore. 

The demand supply curve is definitely not in equilibrium as we can see with diminishing numbers at the diminishing race options. 
 

The boom is over and things are normalizing. 

People are also less willing to give up their time these days and the cost of living is excessive. Going away for the weekend is no longer as affordable as it used to be.

I agree there is diminishing interest in racing AND organising, but there are definitely not more races than ever before. 

[Shebeen]

46 minutes ago, Bro Derek said:

There definitely are not more events than ever before

10 to 15 years ago you could race a marathon every weekend, do an Enduro race once a month, there were multiple stage race options... most of these don't exist anymore. 

The demand supply curve is definitely not in equilibrium as we can see with diminishing numbers at the diminishing race options. 
 

The boom is over and things are normalizing. 

People are also less willing to give up their time these days and the cost of living is excessive. Going away for the weekend is no longer as affordable as it used to be.

I agree there is diminishing interest in racing AND organising, but there are definitely not more races than ever before. 

100% mtb racing has got harder to organise legally, land owners are not so keen. It's a luxury item for many and the field of willing racers is down.  There are more trail options out there for those who just want to ride. 

It's even worse if you look at road races. 

Gravel, on the other hand must be the only race category on the up. Growth of options year on year. Kind of fits between the two for road access too, uses low volume district road. 

 

 

 

17 hours ago, Jimmy 2.0 said:

sponsored, hand out entries or what ever. one thing Kevin has done in the past is create an international stage for mountain bike racing right here in SA!! He's helped put SA in the lime light for mountain bike racing and I'm pretty sure its going to be the same with Gravel Burn for Gravel racing. 

End of the day Grave Burn is a business.

Outside of Cape Epic, event entries are down. Sani2C use to be 3 events over a week. this year it was 2, Cape Pioneer trek was down this year, Trans Baviaans use to be back to back 2 weekends in a row due to so many people wanting to do it this year was only 1 weekend, Wines2Whales use to be fully booked in days when entries opened up this year they are still advertising entries. in order for Gravel burn to be successful they have to attract the overseas market.

The one aspect here is that gravel burn is unique. Concept is new, and there are already a few other options announced

[Michael S]

Full Start List

https://gravel-burn.com/2025-riders-start-list

[the_roadie]

32 minutes ago, Michael S said:

Full Start List

https://gravel-burn.com/2025-riders-start-list

Lots of international riders! Going to be fun.

[betaboy]

On 10/3/2025 at 8:53 AM, Bub Marley said:

Okay this race is definitely going places. Anyone wanting to do this probably best to do it soon before the entry price really jumps dramatically.

It’s already crazy… In a 3rd world country where you don’t even have drinking water… how more premium can you go? Only overseas riders can afford this comfortably.

[betaboy]

37 minutes ago, Michael S said:

Full Start List

https://gravel-burn.com/2025-riders-start-list

Watch Simon… his bringing his A Game.😉

[Furbz]

i'm officially withdrawing. not the decision i wanted to make, but i think i was in laalaa land thinking i could bounce back in time after this tear. 

[Furbz]

22 minutes ago, Furbz said:

i'm officially withdrawing. not the decision i wanted to make, but i think i was in laalaa land thinking i could bounce back in time after this tear. 

if anyone is keen to buy the entry now if your chance.

i have contacted the organisers - if no one snaps it up here it will go to the next rider in line on the waiting list.

[milky4130]

6 minutes ago, Furbz said:

if anyone is keen to buy the entry now if your chance.

i have contacted the organisers - if no one snaps it up here it will go to the next rider in line on the waiting list.

@Sid the Sloth

[the_roadie]

2 hours ago, Michael S said:

Full Start List

https://gravel-burn.com/2025-riders-start-list

Lapa allocations have also been sent. This must be a massive operation with the amount of tents etc. involved.

[Headshot]

I am looking forward to some Epic like coverage. 

[Shebeen]

2 hours ago, Michael S said:

Full Start List

https://gravel-burn.com/2025-riders-start-list

scanning through the punters list there some big names down there. including Doug Ryder (assume he's the one from ned) and his boss Ivan Glasenberg. Must have played a part in Pidcock coming to play.