Living in a small coastal town in New South Wales, Jayson Clarke was finding it difficult trying to picture the Karoo. He watched last year’s Nedbank Gravel Burn from afar… the long gravel roads stretching into the expansive semi-desert. “I’m anticipating a lot of vast nothingness that actually feels like a heap of character,” he writes. He adds “The weather patterns seem to have a mind of their own.”

Back home he runs a small but busy bike shop and still calls himself a BMX’er at heart. Registered for the 2026 edition, this will not be his first visit to South Africa. Twice he volunteered at the Cape Epic in the Pro Tech technical zone, close enough to understand what a week of stage racing demands. Volunteering secured him an entry, though he never stood on that start line himself.

“I’m hoping I can answer the question of if I have one more BHAG ride in me,” he says. A Big Hairy Audacious Goal. “And can I get a little redemption from having Cape Epic taken away from me before.”

Jayson mentions a few life changing events that he casually refers to as “Shifting his outlook.” Losing both parents; being run over by a drunk driver; surviving a stroke. “I’m not as sharp as I once was.”

The 2026 route covers 738 kilometres, with longer stays at the event’s custom built ‘Burn Camps’. This seemingly subtle change promises to have a strong influence on the feel of the week. There is still significant distance and climbing to manage, yet there is also time to reflect after a stage, sample the Karoo cuisine, share stories with fellow riders from other countries and let the day settle before turning in.

When Jayson talks about his goals at the race, it’s about making the cut each day, getting up each morning and committing to another day, then finishing strong. “I always think of a movie line from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off: “ Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”.

He will travel to the Nedbank Gravel Burn on his own, which he describes as daunting, before adding, “I’m Aussie, so I’m good at adapting and meeting new mates on the race trails around the world.” He is curious about the start list and whether any familiar names might appear.

In his bag there will be a photograph of his mum, his “biggest, if quietest, supporter,” who never reined him back from a goal or dream. “She died young, and when the climbs bite and the descents need my focus, I will hear her English accent asking me if I am having fun yet!”

On one of his trips to South Africa recently, he was introduced to Kevin Vermaak and heard about the plan for ‘a new gravel stage race’. It struck a chord, although he does regret missing the inaugural edition last year.

“Edition #2 will be good though!”