Axelle Dubau-Prévot completes an epic comeback and Matt Beers confirms his dominance at the Gravel Burn 2025

The first edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2025 came to an end this Saturday with a vibrant day between Gwanishi and the private reserve of Shamwari, where South African Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road – Toyota) and French Axelle Dubau-Prévot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) were crowned as the great champions after seven days of true challenge in the heart of the South African Great Karoo.

The race, marked by wind, heat, and the imposing landscapes of the desert, concluded with a final stage of 111 km and 1,250 m of elevation gain, in which Travis Stedman (Team Toyota Specialized) took the men's partial victory and Dubau-Prévot completed her sensational comeback with a new win in the women's category.

Beers is crowned the first winner of the Gravel Burn

Matt Beers capped off a week of consistency and control. After winning several stages and resisting the pressure from Swiss Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling), the South African faced the final day with a lead of just 33 seconds, but perfectly managed his time to cross the finish line alongside the best and secure the overall victory.

The partial victory went to Travis Stedman, who beat Beers by seven seconds in a high-speed finish with local dominance, with Tristan Nortje completing the podium.

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Behind him, Pellaud closed a brilliant performance that kept him always in the fight, while Frenchman Hugo Drechou (Numéro31.cc / Pinarello) completed the podium after a very consistent week.

Top 5 – Stage 7 Men

1. Travis Stedman – Team Toyota Specialized – 3:14:14
2. Matt Beers – Specialized Off-Road – Toyota – +0:07
3. Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +0:15
4. Lukas Pöstlberger – Rose Racing Circle – +1:29
5. Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +2:20

Final Overall Classification – Men

1. Matt Beers – Specialized Off-Road – Toyota – 19:01:03
2. Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +5:26
3. Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +8:56
4. Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +9:27
5. Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +10:41

Dubau-Prévot: comeback and final glory

Frenchwoman Axelle Dubau-Prévot starred in one of the great stories of the Gravel Burn 2025. After losing the lead mid-week due to a double puncture and a long repair, she managed to bounce back with two consecutive victories in stages 5 and 7 that returned her to the top of the overall standings at the decisive moment.

The final day was the perfect climax: Dubau-Prévot attacked decisively and crossed the finish line alone with more than four minutes of advantage over Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation) and Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers).

Former leader Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soudal) lost positions after a complicated stage and finished fifth in the final overall standings.

Top 5 – Stage 7 Women

1. Axelle Dubau-Prévot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 3:52:40
2. Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +4:37
3. Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +4:38
4. Clara Koppenburg – +4:39
5. Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +6:41

Final Overall Classification – Women

1. Axelle Dubau-Prévot – Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello – 23:40:55
2. Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +2:07
3. Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +2:15
4. Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +2:44
5. Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – +10:41

The Gravel Burn 2025 leaves behind an inaugural edition to remember. From the spectacular start in Knysna to the finish in Shamwari, the event experienced everything: mud, heat, extreme wind that forced the sixth stage to be neutralized, and an atmosphere of camaraderie that evoked the origins of adventure cycling.

With Beers and Dubau-Prévot as the first champions, the Gravel Burn establishes itself since its debut as a new global reference in gravel stage racing.