Big Efforts Equal Big Rewards at Nedbank Gravel Burn; $155 000 on the Line

The racing at the Nedbank Gravel Burn is hot, so it’s fitting that the medals and trophies are forged by fire. When all is said and done, when the dust has settled and the last embers of the final Burn Camp have been extinguished, the race winners will walk away with dazzling reminders of the intense effort required to succeed at a seven-day gravel race.

This year, the overall prize purse at the Nedbank Gravel Burn sits at $155 000, split evenly between the pro men and pro women. With opportunities to claim overall prize money and stage prize money - and a $2500 prize for the best overall climber - the top men and women riders could potentially enjoy a healthy payday at the conclusion of the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn.

“Not only is this an incentive to race with heart and guile for seven days,” says founder Kevin Vermaak, “but it also shows the commitment of the Nedbank Gravel Burn to reward our best riders equally. The top riders are out there, in the wild, throwing everything they can at the race, and the prize money recognises the intensity the men and women bring to the racing.” A further $2500 per winning rider is also on offer in the Toyota Power Climber competition (for the top climber of the week).

For the winners’ medals, the theme of fire, grit, and gold was incorporated by makers MetCon, the largest privately-owned precious metal refinery in South Africa. Only six have been made: gold, silver and bronze for the men’s podium, and the same three for the women.

Manufactured in-house in South Africa from 999.9 fine silver, each medal weighs 180g. First-place medals are plated in gold, second-place medals in rhodium and third-place medals in red gold. MetCon puts the approximate value of each finished medal at R30 000, including manufacturing, with the valuation subject to the daily silver price.

Making the medals took seven stages: design, tooling, casting, plating, polishing, quality control, and packaging. “Every stage was done carefully and with no shortcuts, because seven stages of racing deserve seven stages of craft,” says Grant Crosse of MetCon. “Each medal is presented in a handcrafted wooden box by Donkey Long Tong with a MetCon nameplate, along with a Certificate of Analysis and a story booklet about the full making-of story. The medals are made to be kept for life.”

And it doesn’t stop there. With extreme racing comes true reward at the Nedbank Gravel Burn. The overall Pro Men’s and Pro Women’s champions will receive the Fire Starter, created by South African fire-tool makers Donkey Long Tong in collaboration with MetCon. Each Fire Starter also incorporates a 42g ring of 24-carat gold, with black ceramic inlay tracing the route’s elevation profile.

Deeply rooted in South Africa’s history, gold remains an enduring symbol of worth. Incorporating this precious metal ensures the award carries tangible value alongside its athletic prestige. Victorious riders may choose to retain the piece or cash it in at market rates, which fluctuate over time.

Handmade using titanium, brass, Karoo olienhout and ostrich leather, the Fire Starter is a working piece of art. At the closing ceremony, the two champions will use their trophies to light the ceremonial fire.

After a week of watching each other’s wheels, they can finally get on with the serious business of celebrating. Donkey Long Tong’s involvement also includes a Nedbank Gravel Burn special-edition Jack Sack. The South African company’s handmade leather bag is designed to carry fire and braai tools, keeping the partnership connected to the fireside gatherings that are part of Burn Camp life.

Every age-group winner will also receive a Fire Starter, with a titanium shaft and the same practical purpose. Winning a category earns a trophy that can still be put to work around a fire years later.

For everyone who completes the race, a finisher medal on a hand-woven Xhosa ribbon marks their own journey to Shamwari Private Game Reserve.