New 8 Day Gravel Stage Race offers $150,000 in Prize Money

Competitive gravel racing has exploded into the mainstream, with many organisers using prize money as one of their magnets to attract top-level riders and gain media impact. This is especially true in here in the United States, where the Life Time Grand Prix “broke” the racing market with its extraordinary prize money, far above what a World Cup offers. But it didn’t end there, and other events jumped on the bandwagon. In fact, in 2025, the Gravel Worlds will be the largest individual event offering prize money . Until now. The new Gravel Burn, a gravel stage race to be held in South Africa, becomes the largest individual event with the most money at stake.

Gravel Burn Gravel Stage Race in South Africa

Pros will line up to compete for $150,000 in prize money while amateurs will compete 8 days and 850 km through the Great Karoo. The Gravel Burn is a gravel race that aims to put the stage format on the map. It is the same format that has been successful in MTB and that, in its day, completely changed the approach of XCM worldwide.

Being a new race in a gravel calendar that is starting to get saturated, it is not easy to make a place for yourself in the media. But if you have 150,000 dollars in prize money, things change. That is exactly the prize that Gravel Burn will be putting up for grabs. It is the highest amount in the world for a single event. All this money will come thanks to the entry of a main sponsor whose name has not yet been revealed.

Gravel Burn Gravel Stage Race in South Africa

If the prize money isn’t enough of a guarantee of success for Gravel Burn, there’s an even more compelling reason to know that it will be a success organisationally. Gravel Burn was created by Kevin Vermaak, the same person who created the Cape Epic, the most famous MTB stage race on the planet.

Our goal is not just to organise a race, but to create a platform that supports the world’s best gravel riders and inspires the next generation. For the professional cyclists who make a living from this sport, this prize money underlines our commitment to setting a new benchmark in gravel racing, ” explained Vermaak himself.

Gravel Burn Gravel Stage Race in South Africa

Although there are no confirmed names yet, it is almost certain that we will see Matt Beers, double Cape Epic winner, current Life Time Grand Prix rider and “local” biker who also shines in gravel, in action. You can imagine that there will be a long list of stars waiting to take part in an event that promises to be a benchmark in the gravel stage race format. Jusper Stuyven, Lidl-Trek rider and former European gravel champion, has also confirmed his participation.

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