When the sun rises over the Eastern Cape tomorrow morning, two men will line up knowing that seven days and 800 kilometres of racing come down to a difference of just 33 seconds.

On paper, Matt Beers and Simon Pellaud could not be more different. Beers is South African cycling royalty, calm and calculating, the kind of rider who turns pressure into precision. Pellaud, the Swiss rider from Tudor Pro Cycling, has brought his WorldTour experience and serious gravel credentials to the Karoo – after finishing second overall in the 2025 Life Time Grand Prix.

And yet, between these two contrasting athletes, a deep understanding has formed. Over the past week they have tested each other to the edge, pushing, countering, and learning from one another in a contest built on mutual respect. They have defined the very spirit of the Nedbank Gravel Burn, sharing breakaways and battles, punctures and headwinds, conversations and respect. It is a rivalry without malice, a duel carried by recognition of what it means to race at this level, with these special landscapes.

Beers has held the lead since the inaugural stage, managing his effort with the precision of a man who understands South African gravel. Pellaud has been relentless, attacking when others fade, closing the gap day by day. They have kept the race alive, with the eyes of the cycling world focused keenly on them as the last stage approaches.

Tomorrow’s final stage, from Gwanishi to Shamwari Private Game Reserve, will decide everything. It is a fast and rolling route that rewards a smart approach to measuring effort and managing risk. The gravel is sharp, the descents unpredictable, and with 6 days or riding in the legs, the fatigue deep. Beers will rely on his infamous power and technical mastery to defend his slender advantage. Pellaud will look for final opportunities to strike – 34 seconds stand between him and making cycling history.

By the time the dust settles, one thing will remain clear: Nedbank Gravel Burn 2025 was shaped not only by the roads of the Karoo, but by two riders who found greatness in each other.