Nedbank Gravel Burn overall leader Matt Beers (Specialized Off-Road Toyota) claimed a tight Stage 4 on Wednesday at Blaauwater Farm near the Compassberg, with Swiss rider Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) finishing just two seconds behind the South African cycling star. Belgian rider Lawrence Naesen (Next Level Racing: Rapha – Orbea) closed out the podium on the 111km loop stage in the heart of the Great Karoo.

In the General Classification after Stage 4, Beers leads Pellaud by a slim 57 seconds, with Germany’s Lukas Baum (Orbea x Leatt Speed Company) sitting in third, 6:21 off the lead. Baum lost 4:32 today, battling a puncture after 60km of racing. Three stages of the 2025 Nedbank Gravel Burn remain, with the event finishing at Shamwari Private Game Reserve on 1  November.

Stage 4 set the pulses racing immediately, with riders hitting a seven kilometre climb straight out of the start chute. An over-eager Peter Stetina (Canyon/Clif Family) attacked in the first kilometre but he was quickly brought back into line by Namibia’s Alex Miller (Swatt Club). Georg Egger (Orbea x Leatt Speed Company) then moved to the front, in an apparent effort to ride in support of his friend and teammate Baum.

After 50km of racing, the lead group was whittled down to nine riders, with headwinds and crosswinds ensuring that any attacks would be in vain. Frenchman Hugo Drechou (Numéro31.cc / Pinarello) – lying fourth in the GC – put in a few surges, but was caught each time. The decisive moment of the day came around the 80km mark when Pellaud pulled away from the group, with only Beers able to match him.

TOUGH HEADWIND

“Today was neutralised for a lot of the stage because of the headwind,” said Beers. “I also think a lot of the riders are feeling the altitude too, because the race was whittled down to a small group pretty quickly after the start. When the wind changed to a cross-tailwind, the racing started to heat up a little.”

Beers tried to shake off Pellaud at one stage, but the Swiss rider refused to wilt, earning admiration from the South African. “Once we went over the Kom Pass, the highest point in the race, I was drilling it as fast as I could on the downhill because Simon doesn’t really enjoy the descents that much, but he is so strong. He’s such a good bike racer.

"At 90km he attacked on the drag to the last climb and I was the only one who could go with him; we got over the top and flicked me through but I was absolutely maxed out, so then he came back and attacked me again, but I just couldn’t respond. I had to ride at my own tempo until I could claw him back.”

After a long day battling the wind, it all came down to the home stretch. Beers’ technical skills proved to make the difference. “At the top of the hill he asked if we were going to roll in safely to the finish, I said ‘no’, so he attacked again. I got back to him and just nuked it past him on the descent; I think we were doing about 80km/h down to the finish. It was quite dangerous, but I don’t think I was going at my maximum.

"I think the gap was about five seconds but he was always right there. The next three days are going to be long if he keeps riding like that though. He has World Tour experience, he really knows how to read a race and has exceptional fatigue resistance – he can go so hard so late in the race. It’s unbelievable. He’s a classy rider and guy.”

Pellaud was happy to take second on the day and secure second place in the GC. And riding with Beers at the front has clearly become a two-man Mutual Appreciation Society. “I am really enjoying racing with Matt,” said Pellaud.

“We are having a nice competition out there and racing in a good spirit. It’s very enjoyable. I do think we are the two strongest riders here, so it will be interesting to see what happens from Stage 5 onwards.”

Pro Men’s Race Stage 4 Results

1 Matthew Beers – Specialized Off-Road – Toyota – 3:12:11

2 Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +2

3 Lawrence Naesen – Next Level Racing: Rapha – Orbea – +2:44

4 Marco Joubert – Imbuko ChemChamp Specialized – +2:46

5 Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +2:47

Pro Men’s Race General Classification After Stage 4

1 Matthew Beers – Specialized Off-Road – Toyota – 11:45:31

2 Simon Pellaud – Tudor Pro Cycling – +57

3 Lukas Baum – Orbea x Leatt Speed Company – +6:21

4 Hugo Drechou – Numéro31.cc / Pinarello – +6:41

5 Tristan Nortje – Imbuko ChemChamp – +7:37

THAT'S HOW SHE ROLLINS

On a day of wind, crashes, minor mechanicals and costly punctures, United States rider Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) claimed a hard-fought stage victory ahead of a rampaging Hayley Preen (ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers) in the women's section.

Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance Soudal) finished third on Stage 4, holding off Stage 3 winner Lauren Stephens (Aegis Cycling Foundation). Moolman-Pasio also moved into the overall lead of the Pro Women’s race, mainly due to overnight leader Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) losing time dealing with an extensive puncture repair. Rollins moved into second on the GC, with Preen now lying third overall.

“That was a really eventful day,” said Moolman-Pasio. “A small group got away quite early, and we kind of stuck together throughout the day. Today, all the women were working together, so that was fantastic to see and made for great riding. Around the midway point of the race, there was attacking and counterattacking, and that spiced things up a little bit.

"Lauren carried out a few attacks. Axelle was also really pushing it on the descents – and that’s when she punctured. It’s really unfortunate for her. I have the GC lead now, but it’s not a nice way to do it. She’s been so strong, so it’s very unlucky. Haley Smith also crashed, so a few things were happening out there.”

Pro Women’s Race Stage 4 Results

1 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – 3:59:09

2 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +20

3 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – +29

4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +38

5 Clara Koppenburg – +1:18

Pro Women’s Race General Classification After Stage 4

1 Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio – AG Insurance Soudal – 14:37:22

2 Melisa Rollins – Liv Racing Collective – +1:09

3 Hayley Preen – ChemChamp Honeycomb 226ers – +5:01

4 Lauren Stephens – Aegis Cycling Foundation – +7:13

5 Haley Smith – Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed – +7:33