Gravel Burn 2026 – the start list: Tom Pidcock is set to compete again in South Africa

Two-time Olympic champion Tom Pidcock looks set to compete in South Africa once again. Although the Briton had already taken part in the inaugural edition of the gravel stage race last year, he simply drifted along in the middle of the pack without any apparent ambition. He says he is only in South Africa by chance, as he is currently on holiday here with his fiancée. This year, Pidcock is set not only to compete in the main race as an Olympic champion, but also to take on the role of the pursuer (“The Fox”) in the evening’s special “Night Burn” event.

$150,000 – the winner’s prize money attracts professionals too

When asked what he’d liked best about the new race format, Pidcock replied after the race: “Life in the camp – including an evening beer by the campfire.” It’s all the more surprising, then, that he’ll be competing again in 2026. Whether he’ll be in holiday mode once more or is motivated by the hefty winner’s prize of $150,000 in total is something his rivals will probably only find out when they arrive at the venue.

In fact, the camp could once again prove to be one of the biggest challenges for the professional elite, as the ‘self-catering’ principle applies to them here too: technical support, tents, bag transport and meals are provided by the organisers. However, participants have to take care of washing their own clothes – which became an increasingly daunting task given the rain, hail and mud of the first edition.

The new regulations for 2026

Whilst only individual riders took part last year, there will now also be a team classification this year. Up to four riders may register together.

In addition, an ‘Adaptive Bike’ category is being introduced for the first time. This is a separate class for wheelchair users and hand cyclists. Such a start was also Tarek Rasouli was recently reflecting on his Transalp ride with Danny MacAskill returned. However, it will be too late for him to register as well. For safety reasons, the start list has been limited to a maximum of 500 participants. Moreover, the logistical burden on the organisers would simply be too great if the field were any larger. After all, even with this year’s route, the entire camp has to be dismantled every two days and set up again at the next stage location.

Anyone who still wants to try for a starting place can put their name on the waiting list. Or perhaps they’d prefer to watch the pros on their trek through the South African Karoo Desert on screen once again. The provisional list of stars from the road cycling, mountain biking, cyclo-cross and gravel biking scenes is already a long one:

Gravel Burn 2026 – the men’s professional start list

• ​Henrique Avancini – The two-time mountain bike marathon world champion from Brazil is making his debut at Gravel Burn.
• Lachlan Morton – The Australian crowd favourite circumnavigated his home continent (14,210 km) in 30 days last year.
• Thomas Pidcock – Will the double Olympic champion (MTB) and 9th-placed rider in the 2026 Tour de France go on the attack this time, or would he rather enjoy a holiday at the training camp again?
• Nino Schurter – the GOAT of cross-country sport. It was always clear that he wouldn’t just sit back and relax once he’d retired.
• Jakob Fuglsang The 41-year-old Dane had already brought his top-level career in mountain biking and road cycling to a close, but now wants to give it another go on a gravel bike in the Karoo Desert.
• Simon Pellaud The Swiss professional road cyclist finished second last year and, following a strong season, is now looking to take his revenge in South Africa.
• Andreas Seewald – The German mountain biker has been a regular winner of the marathon world championship title for the past few years and will be teaming up with Lukas Baum hold their own at the front of the Gravel Burn too.
• Karl Platt – The MTB stage race specialist has already announced that he would certainly compete again, using the widest possible tyres and a suspension fork.
• Matt Beers The local hero won the race last year and will be determined to defend his title with everything he’s got. His knowledge of the local area is, of course, a major advantage.
• Kohei Yamamoto The Japanese mountain bike legend is now 41 years old and wants to give it his all once again on a gravel bike.

The starting list for the women’s professional race

26 women from the world of professional cycling have entered the Gravel Burn. This is as unfortunate as it is surprising, because: in the race’s inaugural edition, there were 92 women on the start line, and female participants in the Gravel Burn receive the same prize money as the men. Nevertheless, this year’s line-up still features some top-class international female riders. Here is a selection:

• Alison Jackson (CAN) – The charismatic winner of Paris-Roubaix Femmes brings immense strength in sprints and the classics to the race.
• Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) – South Africa’s cycling legend and one of the world’s best female climbers is among the absolute favourites on home soil.
• Rosa Klöser (GER) – This top German rider is right up there with the international gravel elite. At the last European Gravel Championships, only a mechanical fault prevented her from finishing on the podium.
• Clara Koppenburg (GER) – Another German road cyclist with exceptional climbing ability who has joined the Tudor Gravel Team this year.
• Lauren Stephens (USA) – The experienced US gravel champion will not be going into the race unprepared.
• Hayley Preen & Cherise Willeit (RSA) – A strong South African local duo who know the desert terrain inside out.
• Other international competitors: Haley Smith (CAN), Melisa Rollins (USA), Whitney Allison (USA), Ruth Astle (UK) and Jana Gigele (AUT).

The Gravel Burn Route 2026

The camps in the desert will be used twice this year on four separate occasions. This also saves the participants the trouble of packing up every morning.

• Stage 1, 25 October: Graaff Reinet – Blaauwater. 90 kilometres, 1,450 metres of elevation gain. Right at the start, the route climbs up to Conical Peak, before a rough descent leads to the first camp.
• Stage 2, 26 October: Blaauwater – Blaauwater. 111 kilometres, 1,450 metres of elevation gain. The circular route takes in, amongst other places, the Sneeuberg Nature Reserve and Nieu-Bethesda.
• Stage 3, 27 October: Blaauwater – Merino. 137 kilometres, 1,550 metres of elevation gain. The longest stage takes in the Wapadsberg Pass and ends after the climb to the Swaershoek Pass.
• Stage 4, 28 October: Merino – Merino. 61 kilometres, 550 metres of elevation gain. The short circuit should provide an opportunity for a faster, tactical race.
• Stage 5, 29 October: Merino – Gwanishi. 128 kilometres, 1,050 metres of elevation gain. The route continues through the remote Karoo along gravel roads and farm tracks.
• Stage 6, 30 October: Gwanishi – Shamwari. 76 kilometres of racing, 700 metres of elevation gain. This is followed by a 33-kilometre, non-scored connecting stage into the game reserve.
• Stage 7, 31 October: Shamwari – Shamwari. 82 kilometres, 1,250 metres of elevation gain. The final stage is a circuit through the reserve, which is also home to elephants, rhinos and lions.

Information: gravel-burn.com

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