Gravel Burn: New gravel stage race set to launch in October 2025

[DieselnDust]

Is the spirit of gravel dead….?

#askingforafriend

[splat]

https://velo.outsideonline.com/gravel/gravel-racing/gravel-racings-largest-single-race-prize-purse-is-now-in-south-africa/

[Shebeen]

I was definitely one of those naysayers complaining about the fistfulls of $$$$ that Epic must have been raking in when they hiked the entry fees after the first few events. I kind of learnt all the backstory since, but it's one helluva listen to hear it directly from the horses mouth.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-the-cape-epic/id1503581934?i=1000677696287

 

 

On 12/4/2024 at 5:48 PM, greeneggs said:

It's 24 hours and counting and the entries have NOT been snapped up...

The market has spoken...!

I'm going to trust Kevin knows what he's doing with this one. The Epic had a massive knock on effect for the local racing scene, industry and created many job opportunities in the cycling and tourism world. No reason to think this could not have a similar outcome.  

 

According to a press release, the substantial purse comes courtesy of a newly-secured multi-year title sponsor whose name is yet-to-be-released.

“Securing the title sponsor and offering the largest prize purse in gravel racing is a defining moment for Gravel Burn,” said Kevin Vermaak, the founder of Gravel Burn.

 

 

 

[Rowl]

On 1/8/2025 at 12:21 PM, Shebeen said:

I was definitely one of those naysayers complaining about the fistfulls of $$$$ that Epic must have been raking in when they hiked the entry fees after the first few events. I kind of learnt all the backstory since, but it's one helluva listen to hear it directly from the horses mouth.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/building-the-cape-epic/id1503581934?i=1000677696287

 

 

I'm going to trust Kevin knows what he's doing with this one. The Epic had a massive knock on effect for the local racing scene, industry and created many job opportunities in the cycling and tourism world. No reason to think this could not have a similar outcome.  

 

According to a press release, the substantial purse comes courtesy of a newly-secured multi-year title sponsor whose name is yet-to-be-released.

“Securing the title sponsor and offering the largest prize purse in gravel racing is a defining moment for Gravel Burn,” said Kevin Vermaak, the founder of Gravel Burn.

 

 

 

https://www.treadmtb.co.za/nedbank-commits-to-five-year-title-sponsorship-of-gravel-burn/

[DieselnDust]

rumour has it a certain MVDP is interested in making the start and finish first...

[SSCC]

8 hours ago, Rowl said:

https://www.treadmtb.co.za/nedbank-commits-to-five-year-title-sponsorship-of-gravel-burn/

Even though KV believes it will become bigger than the Epic I have my doubts. MTb has the advantage of single track excitement to give the riders some “fun” or excitement day after day. Gravel racing is not that. It’s a high intensity smash fest start to finish. I love it but I’m not sure I love it 7 days in a row. Congrats to him for signing up the big corporate sponsors. He sure can put on and sell a big event. 

[mecheng89]

38 minutes ago, SSCC said:

Even though KV believes it will become bigger than the Epic I have my doubts. MTb has the advantage of single track excitement to give the riders some “fun” or excitement day after day. Gravel racing is not that. It’s a high intensity smash fest start to finish. I love it but I’m not sure I love it 7 days in a row. Congrats to him for signing up the big corporate sponsors. He sure can put on and sell a big event. 

Bigger than the Epic? I'd love to see the market research they've done to backup that hypothesis. 

[Rowl]

With the prize money it will definitely pull a variety of names. But tend to agree the lekkerness is a bit different.

1 hour ago, SSCC said:

Even though KV believes it will become bigger than the Epic I have my doubts. MTb has the advantage of single track excitement to give the riders some “fun” or excitement day after day. Gravel racing is not that. It’s a high intensity smash fest start to finish. I love it but I’m not sure I love it 7 days in a row. Congrats to him for signing up the big corporate sponsors. He sure can put on and sell a big event. 

 

[DieselnDust]

This could really become the Tour De France of dirt. Big sponsors attract big names. Big names attract the common man. Timing is perfect too. Its at the end of the road race season so has the potential to attract those big names who would typically be in SA for holiday or pre cyclocross season training camps. The sort of distances the gravel burn offers are nothing for a world tour pro

[Danger Dassie]

Don't recall Vermaak saying that Gravel Burn will become bigger than Cape Epic. Doesn't state that in the press release and I remember him saying at the presser that in many cases the gravel market has eclipsed road and MTB. Which could well be given the increase in events and sales.
But I wouldn't construe it as being bigger than Epic. 
For it'll hold a broader appeal perhaps, even over seven days. If you're a strong amateur it's less demanding and less technical with a lower barrier of risk and equipment compared to a seven MTB event. 
 

[DieselnDust]

1 hour ago, Danger Dassie said:

Don't recall Vermaak saying that Gravel Burn will become bigger than Cape Epic. Doesn't state that in the press release and I remember him saying at the presser that in many cases the gravel market has eclipsed road and MTB. Which could well be given the increase in events and sales.
But I wouldn't construe it as being bigger than Epic. 
For it'll hold a broader appeal perhaps, even over seven days. If you're a strong amateur it's less demanding and less technical with a lower barrier of risk and equipment compared to a seven MTB event. 
 

 

I'll go out on a limb and say that It will become bigger than the Cape Epic. 

The cost of the Cape Epic is massive when the equipment is brought into the picture. Its team kit in duplicate, bike service packages + additional riders services.

If Gravel Burn is throughing all that in for the entry fee its already better value with the added feature of being a journey route and not a silly hyper expensive tour de Cape Town. The Epic has seen its heyday. It's appeal is waning. Early bird might be sold out quickly but thereafter entries are available for much longer than in 2010-2016/2017 period. We'll never see the true demand since the entries are limited to 700 teams(?) Easy enought to fill that with a global reach but its the Early bird that gets working capital into the bank + the lottery entries and that seems to be open for much longer. Even if you're on the waiting list, you're almost guaranteed an invite to part with your cash at some point. That tells me demand is waning. 

Gravel is on the rise and its the next cycling bubble.

[BuffsVintageBikes]

They say data tells the true story and I found the stats from this past weekends Trilogy 80km gravel race at the 99er rather interesting. Besides the fact that the entries more than doubled in a year, it's the age group info that shows where the spending power is currently happening.

The road group on the other hand showed higher numbers in the 40-49 group.

[Danger Dassie]

I don’t see it as a relevant metric to be honest. It may well become ‘bigger’ but what does that mean exactl, in what sense?

At the end of the day there’s overlap yes, but it’s two separate things with separate appeals. That could contribute to growing the rider base.
So imho other than banter it’s a nonsensical measurement.

Cape Epic has a solid history, has grown into a series and is a staple on the calendar. It will follow a variable curve like anything else.

[Skubarra]

11 minutes ago, DieselnDust said:

 

I'll go out on a limb and say that It will become bigger than the Cape Epic. 

The cost of the Cape Epic is massive when the equipment is brought into the picture. Its team kit in duplicate, bike service packages + additional riders services.

If Gravel Burn is throughing all that in for the entry fee its already better value with the added feature of being a journey route and not a silly hyper expensive tour de Cape Town. The Epic has seen its heyday. It's appeal is waning. Early bird might be sold out quickly but thereafter entries are available for much longer than in 2010-2016/2017 period. We'll never see the true demand since the entries are limited to 700 teams(?) Easy enought to fill that with a global reach but its the Early bird that gets working capital into the bank + the lottery entries and that seems to be open for much longer. Even if you're on the waiting list, you're almost guaranteed an invite to part with your cash at some point. That tells me demand is waning. 

Gravel is on the rise and its the next cycling bubble.

I dont get the idea that they are actively aiming to be bigger than the Epic? Starting with 500 entrants (equaling 250 Epic teams so about a 1/3rd of the Epic), going for a luxury setup so I assume aiming for high profit margins so they dont need Epic numbers to be successful. Excited to see gravel growing and I hope this is successful. But I don't see this becoming the gravel version of the Epic, completely different type of appeal.

[DieselnDust]

17 hours ago, Skubarra said:

I dont get the idea that they are actively aiming to be bigger than the Epic? Starting with 500 entrants (equaling 250 Epic teams so about a 1/3rd of the Epic), going for a luxury setup so I assume aiming for high profit margins so they dont need Epic numbers to be successful. Excited to see gravel growing and I hope this is successful. But I don't see this becoming the gravel version of the Epic, completely different type of appeal.

I think we’re forgeting that the Epic started in 2004 as a completely different event to what it is now. A vision today is a reality in the future. That future isn’t 2025

Edited February 13 by DieselnDust

[Shebeen]

7 hours ago, DieselnDust said:

This could really become the Tour De France of dirt. Big sponsors attract big names. Big names attract the common man. Timing is perfect too. Its at the end of the road race season so has the potential to attract those big names who would typically be in SA for holiday or pre cyclocross season training camps. The sort of distances the gravel burn offers are nothing for a world tour pro

I dunno if multi day gravel racing is what people.

No one does.

If it is a great idea, then he has first mover advantage but it is really easy to replicate. 

 

 

While Kev was explicit in not playing in the Epic turf, he has gone and secured a title sponsor rival. Gloves off in the Sandton boardrooms! I thought WeWork was kaput, but it seems they are on some life support.

https://www.treadmtb.co.za/nedbank-commits-to-five-year-title-sponsorship-of-gravel-burn/