Beers (RSA) and Laing (GER) crowned overall Gravel Burn winners || 7-day gravel stage race in South Africa
the final stage of the second edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn took place today, Saturday. This seven-day gravel stage race in South Africa challenged riders from 33 nations with a total of 750 km and 8,500 metres of elevation gain. The professional starting field was packed with international top stars from across the cycling disciplines, including defending champions Matthew Beers (RSA – four-time Cape Epic winner) and Axelle Dubau-Prévôt (FRA), as well as Allison Jackson (CAN – 2023 Paris-Roubaix Femmes winner) and Andreas Seewald (reigning MTB Marathon World Champion), to name just a few.
Starting the final stage, a circuit race in the Shamwari Game Reserve, in the orange leader’s jersey were defending champion Matthew Beers (RSA) and Germany’s Nele Laing, fourth-place finisher at the Gravel World Championships. Their mission was to bring home the overall victory – but who would claim the prestigious final stage in the Big Five Game Reserve?
In the men’s race, Hugo Drechou (FRA) took the victory in a bunch sprint. After finishing on the overall podium last year, the Frenchman claimed a stage victory on the final day this time around. South African Travis Stedman finished second, while Swiss rider Filippo Colombo completed the podium, securing second place in the overall standings. Matthew Beers (RSA) crossed the finish line with the lead group, comfortably defending his orange jersey and successfully retaining his Nedbank Gravel Burn title.
In the women’s race, American Alexis Skarda claimed the stage victory on the final, seventh stage with a solo effort. Second place – and therefore the overall victory at the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn – went to Germany’s Nele Laing. Having won Stage 1, she had held the orange leader’s jersey since Stage 2. It was a commanding performance and the biggest career achievement to date for the 27-year-old German rider.
South African Hayley Preen finished third on the final stage and secured second place in the overall standings. Germany’s Clara Koppenburg completed the overall podium, taking third place in the second edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn.
| STAGE 7 – MEN | STAGE 7 – WOMEN |
| 1. Hugo Drechou (FRA) // 1:37:13 | 1. Alexis Skarda (USA) // 1:58:39 |
| 2. Travis Stedman (RSA) // +00:00:01 | 2. Nele Laing (GER) // +00:00:48 |
| 3. Filippo Colombo (SUI) // 00:00:01 | 3. Hayley Preen (RSA) // +00:00:57 |
| Overall Results – MEN | Overall Results – WOMEN |
| 1. Metthew Beers (RSA) // 17:47:42 | 1. Nele Laing (GER) // 21:41:50 |
| 2. Filippo Colombo (SUI) // +00:00:32 | 2. Heyley Preen (RSA) // +00:01:05 |
| 3. Tristan Nortje (RSA) // 00:00:59 | 3. Clara Koppenburg (GER) // +00:04:28 |
