Cape Epic founder says Eastern Cape will host new gravel race

The seven-day, 850-kilometre gravel race event will take place across the scenic Eastern Cape province, offering a unique experience for both professional and amateur off-road cyclists.

The race will start in the coastal forests near Knysna in the Western Cape, before travelling through the stunning semi-desert landscapes of the Great Karoo.

Gravel Burn will finish at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, where participants will be greeted by Africa’s Big 5. Riders will stay overnight in remote ‘Burn Camps’ set up under the stars, designed to enhance the adventure and camaraderie of the event.

Riders will experience the thrill of racing through landscapes teeming with South African wildlife. Image: Gravel Burn

Gravel is the new fad

Gravel Burn is the brainchild of Kevin Vermaak, the founder of the internationally-renowned Cape Epic mountain bike stage race.

After launching the Cape Epic in 2004 and watching it become the most successful event of its kind, Vermaak sold the race to the US-based Ironman group in 2017 (where he stayed on as a consultant before taking a sabbatical).

His return to the cycling world comes with a new focus on gravel biking, a discipline that has been rapidly growing in popularity.

“I believe gravel biking in South Africa is now at about the place where mountain biking was 20 years ago,” Vermaak said at Thursday’s launch.

“It is growing exponentially in Europe and the United States, both among professional and amateur riders, and we think the timing is perfect for a major, long-distance, full-service pro-am gravel race.”

“And where better to stage it than South Africa?’

The route overview. Image: Gravel Burn

Custom tented camps at Gravel Burn

Gravel Burn’s team includes Richard McMartin – who led logistics for the early Cape Epic races – and route designer Steve Thomas.

Together, they have crafted a course that highlights the best gravel roads in the Great Karoo and Eastern Cape. Riders will rest after the various stages in bespoke tented camps at Avontuur, Graaff Reinet, Blaauwater Farm, Merino Farm, Middleton and Amanzi Camp at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

Gravel Burn will stand apart from other events through an emphasis on community and camaraderie. Image: Gravel Burn

The race will feature point-to-point stages, with just one clover leaf stage circling the striking Compassberg. It is a solo competition, with age-group categories starting from 35 years old, allowing riders to compete for leader jerseys in both men’s and women’s divisions.

“We want riders to fully experience the spirit of gravel,” Vermaak explained. “To me that means adventure, distances, a journey and exploring new routes.”

While organisers emphasised that Gravel Burn will not replicate the Cape Epic, they hope to bring the same level of organisational excellence.

More importantly, they want Gravel Burn to focus on community, which will be achieved in part by the intimate nature of the Burn Camps.

“I guess we are re-inventing the model and in doing so we want to commit to a communal life in the Burn Camps during the Gravel Burn,” Vermaak added.

Registration for the event opens in December 2024.

Is the Eastern Cape ideal for this type of race?

Let us know by clicking on the comment tab below this article or by emailing [email protected] or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.

You can also follow @TheSAnews on X and The South African on Facebook for the latest news.

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Pioneer Newz is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.

Leave a Comment