Tomorrow, on Saturday, 1 November, Shamwari Private Game Reserve will welcome the finishers of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, the world's largest gravel race, marking a milestone moment for South African sport, conservation, and luxury tourism, Cape town Etc reports.
Over seven days and 800 kilometres, an elite field of international cycling champions and 500 adventurous riders from around the world are racing across gravel passes and country roads, traversing South Africa's Great Karoo region. The final stage will conclude at Shamwari, one of the country's most prestigious Big Five game reserves, where riders will be met with the wild beauty and refined luxury that define this Eastern Cape icon.
From icy mornings to punishing winds, the Gravel Burn is testing riders with the full force of Africa's extremes. On Day 2, participants awoke to a landscape soaked in rain and coated in ice. On Day 6, the race had a delayed start due to challenging weather conditions, with gusting winds and low visibility pushing riders to their limits. Every kilometre has demanded grit, resilience, and determination. Africa is hard and relentless, but it is also breathtakingly beautiful.