Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road Toyota) and Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste/Pinarello) won the inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn, a seven-day stage race which crossed South Africa from the Western Cape into the Eastern Cape.
Nedbank Gravel Burn concluded Saturday with a rolling 112km seventh stage from Gwanishi to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, passing through the Esperant Game Reserve and the Swartwaterspoort Gorge.
Going into the final day of racing, Beers held a 33-second lead on Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) and over six minutes on third-place Hugo Drechou (Numéro31.cc / Pinarello). But Pellaud, competitive all week at the sharp end of the racing, said he just didn’t have the legs to chase down the South African favourite.
After early attacks from Georg Egger, Lukas Baum (both Orbea x Leatt Speed Company), and Lukas Pöstlberger (Rose Racing Circle), Travis Stedman (Team Toyota Specialized) won the stage, with Beers coming second after a discussion between the two riders in the final kilometres. Tristan Nortje (Imbuko ChemChamp) completed the all-South African top three.
“The Nedbank Gravel Burn definitely lived up to expectations,” Beers said on the finish line. “It was rough and tough, and throughout the week we dealt with everything from wild wind to hail and heat… Stage 6 was neutralised due to the extreme weather, so I am glad we got to race today and finish on a high.”
At one point in the week, it looked like Beers might be fading, with Pellaud getting stronger with every kilometre.
“It was such a tight race all week,” Beers said. “Simon is such a strong rider, so it was a great battle. I…
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