Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026 wrapped on 31 October at Shamwari Private Game Reserve, with Nele Laing completing a full week in the Orange Jersey to win the Pro Women’s general classification. Alexis Skarda took the final stage victory, while Hayley Preen finished third on the day and second overall after a close GC fight.
The shortened Stage 7 covered 59.5km with 1,050m of climbing, giving the women’s field one last sharp day rather than a soft roll-in. Laing began the stage 56 seconds ahead of Preen, who needed to force the racing if she was going to take the Orange Jersey from the rider who had held it since Stage 1.
Climb points and GC pressure
On the Toyota Power Climb, Preen set the fastest Pro Women’s time of the day and secured the Toyota Power Climber Jersey after a week-long contest with Laing. Alexis Skarda, Olivia Hottinger, Laing, Preen and Clara Koppenburg went over the climb together, with Preen trying to open the race and Laing marking the move.
That GC focus created the gap Skarda needed. The SCOTT-SRAM rider accelerated in the closing kilometres after the final descent and held on to win the stage in 1:58:39, finishing 48 seconds ahead of Laing. Preen crossed the line third, 57 seconds down on Skarda.
Skarda strikes, Laing seals it
Laing then added nine seconds to her advantage over Preen near the finish, closing the race with a final overall time of 21:41:50. Preen finished second overall at 1:05, with Clara Marie Koppenburg third at 4:28. Canyon DT Swiss ATR also won the Pro Women’s teams classification with 140 points.
Why this one lands
For women following gravel racing, this was exactly the sort of finale that makes stage racing compelling: a leader defending a narrow margin, a climber’s jersey still in play, and a stage winner taking her chance while the GC riders watched each other. The Great Karoo gave the Pro Women’s race room to be tactical, tense and properly visible.