Nedbank Gravel Burn adds team competition to 2026 race
The Nedbank Gravel Burn will introduce a Teams Classification at its second edition, run 25–31 October 2026 across South Africa's Eastern Cape. Organisers say it is the first major gravel stage race to introduce a formal team competition.
The seven-day, 750km solo race stays the core, with the full $150,000 USD prize purse going to individual riders, split equally between Pro Men and Pro Women. Teams field four riders, with the top three counting daily.
Among the first professional teams confirmed is Scott SRAM, managed by Thomas Frischknecht, will be led by Nino Schurter, alongside a 36ONE-backed South African road squad. Founder Kevin Vermaak said, “The timing is a major factor. At Traka and Unbound this year, a dominant Specialized Off-Road pretty much defined the racing dynamics. In the latter half of the Nedbank Gravel Burn race last year we had riders out of GC contention forming alliances and racing in support of a clear leader. It’s obvious that gravel racing has evolved – it’s inevitable that races will soon feature several major teams. And this is particularly true for the stage racing format. Developing a platform that provides incentives for teams is a natural progression. Independent ‘privateer’ racers formed the foundation of professional gravel racing, adding to the ‘freedom’ and charm of gravel. We recognise that the emergence of ‘superteams’ is a threat to that. That’s why we opened the Teams Classification to all to help level the playing field, where they may form ad-hoc teams to compete with the more formal outfits.”
