Ahead of entries opening on 3 February, Nedbank Gravel Burn has put on the table the question the whole gravel community has been waiting for: where will the 2026 edition actually go? The organisation has confirmed the start town, the location of the Burn Camps and the overall stage structure, sketching a route that crosses the Great Karoo before heading into the Eastern Cape.

The seven-day, 750-kilometre race will start in the historic town of Graaff Reinet, cross the remote, fossil-rich plains of the Karoo, and finish in the Eastern Cape bushveld at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, with a Big Five welcome and a brief glimpse of the Indian Ocean along the way. Few gravel races in the world can claim such a radical shift in landscape between start and finish.

Two nights per camp, to take in the Karoo at a proper pace

The 2026 edition is framed as a cohesive journey through South Africa's semi-desert interior, with a sequence of stages designed to draw riders into the Karoo from day one and build toward a real sense of arrival at the finish. One of the more interesting features of this new structure is the inclusion of two consecutive nights at three locations along the route, rather than moving camp every single day. That gives riders time to properly settle into each Burn Camp, actually rest, and connect with the landscape, culture and rhythm of the journey, instead of experiencing it all through a car window. The detailed routing for each stage will be released closer to the event.

Kevin Vermaak, founder of Nedbank Gravel Burn, sums up the thinking behind the decision like this: the Karoo, he says, isn't a place you move through quickly — it rewards the time and attention you give it. Starting in Graaff Reinet lets riders step straight into that environment from minute one, and everything that follows is shaped by the scale and character of that landscape.

Vermaak also wanted to acknowledge the towns that made the first edition possible: Knysna, Avontuur and Willowmore, whose commitment to the inaugural race was key and which, in his words, remain part of Gravel Burn's story even though they're not on the 2026 route.

Simpler logistics and one of the most varied fields around

The new stage structure also simplifies travel logistics: riders are encouraged to fly into and out of Gqeberha, with optional race-organised transport available for those who need it. That's no small detail for anyone travelling from outside South Africa who already has enough on their mind sorting out gear and luggage.

Gravel Burn defines itself as a pro-am event in the truest sense of the word, with twenty age-group categories ranging from 18 to 75, riding the same route and sharing camp with the professional elite. British endurance cyclist Juliet Elliott points to exactly that: the diversity of the field, in age and background, a strong female turnout, plus the pro race unfolding alongside the amateur one. That mix, she says, creates a special dynamic, and the Burn Camps add another layer to the experience, letting riders push hard during the day and recover in style at night.

Entries for the 2026 edition open at 15:00 (GMT+2) on 3 February, with the race scheduled for 25 to 31 October 2026. If the Karoo has been on your list of places to explore by bike, now's the time to pencil in the date.

Dry ravines, hard-packed dirt tracks, technical sections by the sea and the Tabernas desert as a backdrop: the Titan Desert Almería 2026 spreads its challenge across four very different stages. We take a look at the terrain you'll face and why prepping your bike mechanically matters just as much as your physical training.

The Škoda Titan Desert Almería crosses one of the most varied landscapes found in any mountain bike race in Europe. The Tabernas desert, the only one of its kind on the continent, shapes the character of much of the route: fast loose-dirt tracks, dry ravines and sandy stretches that demand the right tyre choice and pressure before you even take the start.

Stage by stage: what terrain to expect

The first stage usually serves as an introduction to the Tabernas desert: fast tracks, a bit of sand, and lunar-like landscapes that have already served as film sets. The second and third stages add kilometres of ravines and hard-packed dirt tracks, with more technical sections where a poorly adjusted gear or worn brakes show up immediately. The final stage usually brings the route closer to the Mediterranean coastline, a change of scenery that serves as a reward after three days in the desert.

With terrain that changes so much, checking your bike before leaving home simply isn't enough. Sand and dust from the desert wear down the drivetrain much faster than usual, and technical sections demand brakes and suspension in perfect condition. That's why at MASQUEBICI we offer a daily mechanical service designed specifically for stage races like this one: a thorough clean every evening, inspection of critical points, and repair of any issue before it turns into a bigger problem the next day.

Choosing the right equipment makes all the difference on such a varied route. Most riders opt for dual-compound tubeless tyres, slightly wider than usual to better absorb loose sand and desert stones, adjusting pressure stage by stage depending on the terrain ahead. The constant change of terrain, from desert to coast, also punishes brake pads and the chain far more than a cyclist used to tarmac routes might expect.

MASQUEBICI, ready for any breakdown at every stage

A flat tyre in the middle of a ravine or gears that start to fail on a technical section can ruin an entire stage if you have no one to turn to. At MASQUEBICI we've spent more than 15 years providing mechanical support to cyclists in stage races, and we are among the official mechanical service partners of the Škoda Titan Desert Almería. Our team knows the wear this type of terrain causes and sets up its workshop right next to the Titan Village to check your bike every evening, point by point, before you head out to the next stage.

Conocer el terreno de antemano te permite entrenar de forma más específica y decidir con tiempo qué material llevar a Almería. En los próximos artículos de esta serie repasaremos las fechas y el Titan Village con más detalle, además de contarte cómo funciona exactamente nuestro servicio mecánico durante los cuatro días de carrera. La Škoda Titan Desert Almería 2026 promete un recorrido inolvidable: prepara la bici, y del resto nos encargamos nosotros.

When a seven-day, 750-kilometre race cuts through South Africa's semi-desert interior, the vehicle that gets you from one Burn Camp to the next stops being a logistical detail and becomes part of the adventure itself. That's why the news that Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) has renewed its commitment to Nedbank Gravel Burn through a multi-year agreement is more than a sponsorship headline: it's confirmation that the race keeps building a solid foundation to grow on.

The announcement lands just months ahead of the 2026 edition, which will cover 750 kilometres between Graaff Reinet and Shamwari Private Game Reserve from 25 to 31 October, and it strengthens Toyota's role as Official Vehicle Partner of the race, a role it has held since the very first edition.

It's worth remembering what Nedbank Gravel Burn actually involves to understand why mobility matters so much here. It's a solo-rider stage race, seven days and 750 kilometres across South Africa's Eastern Cape, built as a full-service pro-am event: the world's best gravel racers compete on the same tracks, the same day, under the same conditions as the most committed amateurs. There's no team car waiting at every checkpoint for some and different treatment for the rest — the logistics have to work for the whole field, from first to last, and that's exactly where Toyota comes in.

A special jersey and a partnership that goes beyond the cars

As part of this expanded agreement, Toyota will introduce a special jersey competition during the race, designed to highlight the particular characteristics of Karoo gravel and reward both athletic performance and tactical smarts on the ground. It's a nice fit with the spirit of Gravel Burn: here it's not just about going fast, reading the race well counts too.

Andrew Kirby, President and CEO of Toyota South Africa Motors, has explained that this involvement isn't coming out of nowhere — it's the continuation of years of the brand's support for South African cycling, including its partnership with Toyota Specialized. Seeing that legacy come to life at Gravel Burn, with Matt Beers' victory in the inaugural edition as the clearest example, reinforces for Kirby just how valuable this partnership really is. And it's not only about marketing: the route passes through areas where having a dependable vehicle isn't a luxury, but, in his own words, "a lifeline," especially on stretches far from any immediate assistance.

That support is felt throughout the seven days of racing, underpinning transport, mobility and operations across the whole event. In the 2025 edition, that backing also reached riders like Reuben van Niekerk, an amputee rider who completed the event. Van Niekerk has shared that what stood out most to him was seeing Toyota's support extend across the entire field equally, from the eventual winner to riders in the latter half of the standings, and that access to adapted mobility equipment was key to finishing what many already consider the toughest edition in years.

The vehicle that was already part of the landscape

Kevin Vermaak, founder of Nedbank Gravel Burn, says that when they first started scouting the route, most of the vehicles they came across on those tracks were already Toyotas. That reality, he says, hasn't changed. And it's precisely that alignment between what the race needs and what the brand offers that has shaped this long-term partnership.

For a race still defining its identity and long-term vision, having a committed multi-year partner brings something that isn't always easy to secure in sport: stability. Meanwhile, entries for the 2026 edition are already open, with riders gearing up to tackle the Eastern Cape route from 25 to 31 October.

If you've ever ridden dirt tracks where your phone has no signal and the next town is who-knows-how-many kilometres away, you'll understand exactly why partnerships like this matter just as much as the leader's jersey.

If, until now, you thought gravel racing was all about solo battles against the desert, the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 has a surprise for you. The South African organisers have just announced the first formalised Teams Classification in a major international gravel stage race, and the peloton lining up to debut it is anything but second tier.

The headline signing is Scott SRAM, one of the most decorated teams in mountain bike history, managed by Thomas Frischknecht and led by Nino Schurter, Olympic champion and ten-time XCO world champion. Watching a squad with that level of technical skill and race craft take on gravel promises to be one of the highlights of the Karoo in 2026.

South Africa sends its best too

This isn't just a European invasion. A South African road team backed by 36ONE Asset Management has also confirmed its entry, with Ryan Gibbons, Kent Main, Blaine Kieck and Warren Moolman on the roster. Four riders with plenty of road racing pedigree, now ready to take on dust, gravel and the endless stages of the South African interior.

Kevin Vermaak, founder of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, hasn't hidden his excitement about the response to the announcement. In his view, gravel racing is going through the same evolution that events like The Traka or Unbound already experienced, where structured teams eventually set the pace at the sharp end of the field. The difference here is that the Teams Classification was built into the race from day one, rather than being an afterthought.

The format was developed with input from people who know exactly what they're talking about: Pete Stetina, the Canyon x DT Swiss team, and Adam Hansen, president of the CPA, the professional riders' association. In other words, this isn't a marketing gimmick, it's a format shaped by and for the riders who will actually be racing stage after stage across the Karoo.

How it works (and why solo racers are still the stars)

Don't worry if you'd rather race at your own pace and take on the event solo, nothing changes for you. The individual race remains the foundation of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, with a $150,000 USD prize purse split equally between the Pro Men's and Pro Women's categories. The Teams Classification is an extra layer of strategy and spectacle, not a replacement.

Teams are made up of four riders, and each day the three best times from each squad count towards the overall team standings. That means thinking in group tactics, sharing the workload, and waiting for a teammate who's struggling on a sandy climb... classic gravel racing, but now with a collective dimension that a race of this scale has never had before.

And the perfect finale awaits at the Burn Celebration in Shamwari, where teams will step onto the podium alongside the individual winners. An expanded party, more names on stage, and even more reasons to raise a toast around the campfire.

There's room for privateers too

The best part is that this classification isn't reserved for superteams with logos and support vehicles. Any group of friends can enter as a team of four riders and compete on equal terms in this new category. So if you and three mates from the club have already been talking about heading to the Karoo together, this is the perfect excuse to make the trip even more special.

Because, in the end, that's what makes the Nedbank Gravel Burn great: professionals like Nino Schurter sharing the route, the camp and the dust with amateurs from 25 different countries. The Teams Classification doesn't change that spirit, it multiplies it. Same route, same Burn Camp under the stars, same drive to cross the finish line, but now, if you want, with someone paddling alongside you.

Fancy putting a team together for 2026? At Masquebici we're already discussing who we'd sign for our own version of Scott SRAM. Tell us in the comments who you'd bring along to the Karoo.

At the end of every stage of the Titan Desert Almería 2026, no tent is waiting for you, but a room with a hot shower, a free buffet and a pool. This race's Titan Village has a particularity that surprises first-timers: the organisation puts riders up in hotels on the Mojácar coast. Here's how it works and what you can expect every night.

The Škoda Titan Desert Almería is no ordinary race: it is one of the most singular mountain bike events in Europe and a fixed stop on the Titan World Series calendar. For more than five years, Almería has become the stage where hundreds of cyclists take on landscapes ranging from the harshest desert to mountain passes, via coastal stretches that take your breath away.

Key dates and accommodation at the Best Oasis and Best Mojácar hotels

Best Oasis and Best Mojácar are right on the beach, just minutes from downtown Mojácar, and serve as the race's headquarters throughout the four days of competition. Every rider gets an air-conditioned room, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, and access to the hotel's common areas to stretch, recover and socialise with the rest of the peloton. Every evening, the organisation also holds the technical briefing that reviews the next day's stage.

The Titan Village is the logistical and social heart of the race, and this year it is set up at the Best Oasis and Best Mojácar hotels, on an all-inclusive basis with food, drinks and other services. It's worth clarifying something important here: at the Škoda Titan Desert Almería, riders do not sleep in camps or tents, as happens in other desert races. The whole peloton stays at these hotels, where questions also get answered, extra activities are available, and every night features the sport briefing that wraps up the day's stage and previews the next one.

What the Titan Village includes and how MASQUEBICI fits into your stay

This is where something many riders overlook comes into play, until they're already racing: getting the bike transported and maintained daily in a hotel environment. At MASQUEBICI we have more than 15 years of experience providing mechanical support to cyclists in stage races, and we are among the official mechanical service partners of the Škoda Titan Desert Almería. Our team sets up right next to the Titan Village so that, every afternoon when you get back from the stage, you can leave your bike in our hands: a deep clean, a check of the drivetrain, brakes and suspension, and any repair needed before the next day's start.

If you already have the date marked on your calendar, the next step is thinking about the full logistics: registration, accommodation and who is going to look after your bike during those four days in the desert. In the next articles of this series we'll tell you in detail what the stages are like and exactly how our mechanical service works during the race. The Škoda Titan Desert Almería 2026 promises to be one of the most special editions of the Titan World Series: book your dates, prepare your registration and, whenever you want to stop worrying about the mechanics, you already know where to find us.

Long before Jakob Fuglsang became one of Denmark's most accomplished road cyclists, he was a young mountain biker learning how to win the hard way. And now, with the road already in the rear-view mirror, he's heading back to exactly where it all began: the dirt. The Dane has confirmed his entry into the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026, from 25 to 31 October in South Africa, closing a circle that started almost twenty years ago.

It was 2006 when he turned professional and moved to Italy to join a mountain bike team. A year later came his first great South African feat: the Cape Epic alongside Roel Paulissen, where the pair finished second after a fierce battle with the mighty Karl Platt and Stefan Sahm. That same year, in 2007, he became U23 cross-country world champion, overtaking none other than Nino Schurter on the final lap (the podium was completed by another future legend, Jaroslav Kulhavý). In 2008 he returned to the Cape Epic with Paulissen... and this time they won outright.

Those results caught the attention of Team CSC, the Danish outfit that at the time brought together stars like Fabian Cancellara, Carlos Sastre and the Schleck brothers. Within months, Fuglsang left mountain biking behind and became a full-time road cyclist. It was the start of an 18-year career that would take him through the jerseys of Leopard Trek, RadioShack, Astana and Israel Premier Tech.

South Africa came before everything else

Before the Olympic silver in Rio, before winning Liège-Bastogne-Liège and Il Lombardia, before his two Critérium du Dauphiné titles and his top-10 finishes at the Tour and Giro, and before his stage win at the Vuelta a España... there was South Africa. Almost two decades on, Fuglsang looks back fondly on those Cape Epic days and admits he always wanted to return to South Africa on a bike, this time without the pressure of the clock and with more time to enjoy the scenery.

Retired from the professional peloton since mid-2025, he now splits his time between family and personal projects, including his cycling apparel brand, Mad.One. And among those projects there's room for a seven-day, 750km race across the Great Karoo, sleeping in the Burn Camps.

What hooks him now goes beyond the race itself

What draws Fuglsang to this event goes well beyond the start line: the local food, the stops at the Lapas, the atmosphere among riders at the end of each stage, and those Karoo nights under a sky full of stars. In his own words, few races have the same spirit once you get off the bike, and that's one of the reasons he decided to sign up.

Old habits die hard, though. Fuglsang admits he still holds onto "a small idea" of being competitive on certain stages, and that he'll arrive in South Africa with some fitness built up ahead of late October. He says it with the calm of someone who no longer needs to prove anything, but who also hasn't lost the appetite to fight for the front if the day allows it.

The best part of stage racing: pros and amateurs, same adventure

One of the biggest draws of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, and of this kind of stage race in general, is that professionals of Fuglsang's calibre share the route, the camp and the fatigue with amateur riders from all over the world. Same dust, same climbs, same Burn Camp at night. For the rest of us, that means one thing: a real chance to share a week of racing with a legend of the peloton.

The lesson we take away at masquebici

If there's something we love about stories like this, it's seeing that gravel doesn't care about your résumé. It doesn't matter whether you've won a Monument or you're about to toe the line at your first ever stage race: we all start day one with the same mix of nerves and excitement. Fuglsang is leaving familiar tarmac behind to throw himself into the uncertainty of the dirt, exactly like anyone taking their first step into gravel.

And that step is easier when you're not going it alone. At masquebici we help you prepare your bike and your logistics so that, whether you're racing for the overall or simply want to enjoy the scenery like Fuglsang, the only thing you have to manage is the route itself.

We'll keep sharing more confirmed names for this 2026 edition of the Nedbank Gravel Burn. And if you fancy living your own version of this adventure, you know where to find us.

Key dates and accommodation at the Best Oasis and Best Mojácar hotels

Mark these dates, because they'll shape your season planning. The race will take place from October 1 to 4, 2026, across four consecutive stages. Bib collection is scheduled for September 30, in the afternoon. Registration opened on March 26, 2026 and stays open until September 7, 2026 (or until spots run out, which tend to be limited). If you're planning to race it, don't leave your registration for the last minute.

Four desert stages and MASQUEBICI's role in the race

Almería offers a range of terrain that's hard to match anywhere else in Europe: the Tabernas desert, dry ravines, rocky tracks and stretches along the Mediterranean coast. Each of the four stages is designed to test something different (endurance, technical skill, heat management), which is why physical preparation needs to go hand in hand with serious mechanical preparation. A bike that isn't running well on technical terrain can undo months of training in seconds.

This is where something many riders underestimate until they're already racing comes into play: the state of the bike after each stage. At MASQUEBICI we've spent more than 15 years supporting cyclists with mechanical and massage services in stage races, and we're listed among the mechanical and physio service partners of the Škoda Titan Desert Almería. Our daily mechanical service (from deep cleaning to full repairs) means you start every morning with a bike that's dialed in, without losing minutes or mental energy on tasks we can handle for you. Pair it with our daily sports massage, and you'll reach the final stage with fresher legs and a clearer head.

If you've already circled the date, the next step is thinking through the full logistics: registration, accommodation, bike transport and, above all, who's going to look after you and your bike during those four days in the desert. In the next articles in this series, we'll walk through the stages in detail, what to pack, and exactly how our mechanical and massage service works during the race. The Škoda Titan Desert Almería 2026 promises to be one of the most special editions in the Titan World Series: lock in your dates, sort your registration and, whenever you're ready to stop worrying about mechanics and recovery, you know where to find us.