South Africa’s Great Karoo hosted a tactical showdown as Matt Beers (Toyota Specialized) secured his second consecutive Nedbank Gravel Burn title by 32 seconds over Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM), while Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) dominated the women’s division from start to finish across the seven-day stage race.
Fantasy & Market Impact
- Filippo Colombo proves his multi-surface capabilities with SCOTT-SRAM, keeping pressure on the winner throughout the race.
- Nele Laing’s performance in her debut gravel stage race marks her victory at the event.
How the Men’s Race Unfolded Across the Karoo
As Bike Hub reported, the second edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn drew over 400 riders from 33 countries across a demanding route from Graaff-Reinet into the Eastern Cape. Mattia De Marchi (The Grip) seized the opening stage, but the general classification shifted decisively on Stage 2 beneath Compassberg. Beers and Colombo broke clear over Kom Pass—the race’s highest point at 1,894 meters—with Beers shouldering the workload to claim the orange leader’s jersey by just four seconds.
A back-to-back win for Beers at #NedbankGravelBurn and a first for Nele Laing. 🚴 Congratulations to our 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn champions. 💚 #KindredByGravel pic.twitter.com/kswELdG4Es
Crosswinds defined Stage 3 as the peloton hit the tar toward Merino, where Eddy Le Huitouze (The Grip) attacked the Swaershoek Pass to win by 46 seconds. According to Cyclingnews, Colombo launched repeated attacks on the final stage inside Shamwari Private Game Reserve, but Beers marked every move to finish sixth in the bunch and seal the overall victory. Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko) rounded out the men’s podium, finishing 59 seconds behind Beers.
Laing Controls the Women’s Division From Day One
Nele Laing made an immediate statement in her first gravel stage race and pulled on the orange jersey, which she defended all the way to the Shamwari finish line. Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb) pushed the pace throughout the week, finishing second overall, 1 minute and 5 seconds behind Laing. Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro Cycling) took third place, 4 minutes and 28 seconds back.
Nathalie Eklund (58&fam) was awarded the stage win in that ruling. In the final stage loop, Hugo Drechou (Gravel Nation) won the sprint, though Laing’s overall lead remained secure.
Reflecting on the tactical demands of defending his crown, Beers noted the immense difficulty of the parcours. “The racing was a lot more intense and tactical this year. Filippo made my life properly difficult and gave it everything,” Beers stated, as documented by Daily Dispatch.
Disclaimer: The fantasy and market insights provided are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute financial or betting advice.
