Beers and Laing conquer the Great Karoo

Hugo Drechou (Gravel Nation) and Alexis Skarda (SCOTT-SRAM) each took prestigious final stage victories at Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 on Saturday.

Drechou outsprinted the lead group to claim his first stage win of the week, while Skarda soloed to victory after accelerating away from the Pro Women’s bunch in the final kilometres.

Matt Beers (Toyota Specialized) finished sixth on the day to secure his second consecutive Nedbank Gravel Burn title. In the Pro Women’s Race, Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) completed a full week in the Orange Jersey with second place on the stage, extending her GC lead over Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb).

Nickolas Zukowsky (Pinarello Q36.5 Pro Cycling) was only the fifth fastest up today’s Toyota Power Climb, but the lead he had built during the week was enough to keep the Toyota Power Climber Jersey. In the Pro Women’s Race, after a week-long battle with Laing, Preen claimed one final Toyota Power Climb win to ensure it remained hers.

The final stage of Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 was shortened to 59.5km with 1,050m of climbing. The shorter day still proved thrilling from the start, as the GC contenders in both the Pro Men’s and Pro Women’s fields fought with everything they had to overturn their time deficits on the gravel roads of Shamwari Private Game Reserve.

While the pros battled for points and positions, the rest of the field set off into Big 5 territory for the final stage. Some had ambitions of securing their place in the age-group categories, while others celebrated an incredible week on the bike with friends old and new. A final liaison through Shamwari Private Game Reserve led the riders back to the Burn Camp on Stage 7, capping off Edition #2 of the gravel stage race across the Great Karoo into wildlife country.

BEERS WINS SECOND TITLE

The shortened route made for added pressure on Filippo Colombo (SCOTT-SRAM) and Tristan Nortje (Toyota Specialized Imbuko), who started the day second and third respectively. With fewer kilometres to race, there were fewer opportunities to attack and make up time on GC leader Matt Beers. But that didn’t stop them from trying.

Colombo, who started the day just 32 seconds behind the Orange Jersey, was the most combative rider of the day, launching attack after attack in a bid to claw back time. “I loaded my XC legs this morning and made it as hard as I could,” he said.

The Toyota Power Climb, which came within the first 10km, was once again a pivotal moment in the Pro Men’s Race. Felix Stehli (SCOTT-SRAM) went all in for teammate Colombo, driving the pace up the climb to try to force a gap before dropping off once over the top. The pace was so high that Beers posted the fastest time on the section, though it had no impact on the final Toyota Power Climber standings.

Over the top, SCOTT-SRAM’s Colombo and Andri Frischknecht, along with Georg Egger (Orbea Speed Company), Marc Pritzen (Honeycomb 226ers), and Travis Stedman and Jaedon Terlouw (Toyota Specialized Imbuko), drove the pace and eventually distanced Nortje.

Teamwork came to the fore as Nortje was dragged back to the lead group by teammate Inus du Preez, an effort that undoubtedly helped secure Nortje’s third place on GC.

“I knew today was going to be super hard, and I started the day not feeling great,” said Nortje. “There were only 20 seconds between me and Filippo, and I got dropped. Big credit to my teammate Inus, who pulled me all the way back to the group. I don’t think I would have made it back to the front and been in the sprint without him.”

As the finish line approached, Drechou launched from the back of the group and surged up the right-hand side to take his first stage win of the week. Stedman crossed the line second and Colombo third, both one second behind.

Beers finished sixth in the tight group, to claim his second Nedbank Gravel Burn title in as many years.

“The racing was a lot more intense and tactical this year. Filippo made my life properly difficult and gave it everything,” said Beers. “There was too much wind to do anything today other than cover the moves. I just had to race a clever race. Sometimes it’s boring, but often that’s how you win.

“I love stage racing and I love gravel, so this suits me. I had a really lucky week and it was such a close race. Racing abroad is always really hard, but racing at home on a big stage like this is great. I always try to take advantage of it and represent South Africa.”

LAING CRUISES TO TITLE

Stage 7 started with 56 seconds separating Nele Laing (Canyon DT Swiss ATR) from her nearest rival, Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb). With just 59.5km left to race, the ball was in Preen’s court: she would need to make the race if she was to have any chance of taking the Orange Jersey from Laing, who had held it since Stage 1.

On the Toyota Power Climb, Nedbank Gravel Burn 2025 winner Axelle Dubau-Prevot (EF Education-Oatly) launched a fierce attack. The group reacted immediately, and Preen posted the fastest time of the day in the Pro Women’s Toyota Power Climber competition. The result secured her the jersey, though it wasn’t her main objective. She wanted to win on GC.

Alexis Skarda (SCOTT-SRAM), Olivia Hottinger (SCOTT-SRAM), Laing, Preen and Clara Koppenburg (Tudor Pro Cycling) went over the climb together. Preen tried to force a break, but Laing was quick to mark the move.

The group stayed together from there, with Laing’s eyes fixed firmly on her rival. That focus gave Skarda the opportunity to get away in the closing kilometres.

“I spotted the chance to get away as the GC contenders were so focused on each other,” said Skarda. “I used the momentum from the final descent and just accelerated hard. I was able to hold it to the line, and I’m super happy to win the stage and take sixth overall!”

The stage win was a result Skarda was overjoyed with after a tough start to the 2026 event.

Approaching the final finish line, Laing accelerated away from the bunch and showed why she had worn Orange since arriving at Blaauwater Farm after Stage 1. She took an additional 9 seconds out of Preen on her way to the top step of the Pro Women’s podium.

“I was a little nervous this morning because I felt the pressure. We wanted to get the climber’s jersey back and keep the GC,” said Laing.

“I was also quite excited about the race being shortened, as we knew the GC was pretty much safe. This was my first gravel stage race, and my first stage race this long. Being here in this beautiful environment in South Africa is special, and being here with my whole team was the best way to end the season.”

Preen finished third on the stage and second overall.

“It’s been an amazing season. Last year I finished third and this year second,” said Preen, having placed second overall in the 2026 Lifetime Grand Prix Series. “Obviously I wanted the top step, but I’m very proud of second. I did everything I could, and I’m really happy to have been on the podium for five out of seven stages, with my stage wins and the Toyota Power Climber Jersey. The racing has been so aggressive and fun, and women’s racing is only improving!”

Stage 7 Results:

Pro Men

1. Hugo Drechou • Gravel Nation | 1:37:13

2. Travis Stedman • Toyota Specialized Imbuko | 1:37:14 (+0:01)

3. Filippo Colombo • SCOTT-SRAM | 1:37:14 (+0:01)

Pro Women

1. Alexis Skarda • SCOTT-SRAM | 1:58:39

2. Nele Laing • Canyon DT Swiss ATR | 1:59:27 (+0:48)

3. Hayley Preen • ChemChamp Honeycomb | 1:59:36 (+0:57)

General Classification After Stage 7:

Pro Men

1. Matt Beers • Toyota Specialized | 17:47:42