Not only is this year’s inaugural Gravel Burn stage race the largest of its kind, but with a massive $150,000 (£121,400) prize purse, it’s already making a name for itself before even putting a foot on the pedal.
In fact, it’s the largest single-race gravel purse ever built.
The 850-kilometre, seven-stage event will be held in South Africa for the first time this year, from October 26 to November 1. The event also includes 11,000 meters of climbing and is expected to attract some of South Africa’s best riders. Sports enter the big money elite category. Indeed, 2021 Milan-Sanremo winner Jasper Stuyven has already been recruited.
However, it is open to everyone and age group competitions are suitable for non-elites.
South African rider Matt Beers, who won the Belgian Waffle Ride last year, said the Gravel Burn and its huge prize list were a game changer.
“This changes everything,” Beers said on the Gravel Burn website. “Gravel Burn puts the focus on stage racing in the gravel category. Such huge prize money shows how serious gravel cycling has become.”
He added: “This is a big step towards further professionalizing the sport and giving it the recognition it deserves. It will also inspire international gravel racers, particularly from the United States, to come to South Africa and compete. Contest.”
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The Gravel Burn isn’t the only event in the news this week to reveal a huge prize money – former US star Levi Leipheimer has also revealed a whopping $156,000 for his Levi’s Granfondo road race.
Gravel Burn is run by Kevin Vermaak, who also founded the Cape Epic mountain bike race in 2004. This hugely successful eight-stage race put South African mountain biking on the map. Now, Vermark wants to do the same thing on gravel racing.
“I believe gravel biking in South Africa is now at about the same level as mountain biking was 20 years ago,” he said. “It’s growing exponentially in Europe and the United States, both for pro and amateur riders, and we think the time is right for a big, long-distance, full-service pro/am gravel event.”
The huge bonus is apparently made possible through a multi-year sponsorship deal, details of which will be announced on February 13.
The gravel burning race begins in the town of Knysna on South Africa’s south coast and takes competitors into the semi-desert interior of the Great Karoo before heading south back to the coast. Riders camp each night in provided tents.
Entries are now in event website.
