Matthew Beers powers through Gravel Burn’s final stages with grit, skill and style

Matthew Beers is in the thick of Gravel Burn’s final stages, tackling tough terrain, long distances, and unpredictable weather with the calm confidence of a rider who knows what he’s doing.

The South African gravel specialist has been consistently at the front, proving that endurance, strategy, and a love for the ride are just as important as raw power.

Gravel Burn is no joke. With rolling hills, relentless gravel tracks, and stages stretching over 100 km, it’s a race that separates the tough from the truly tough.

The early stages set the tone. Stage 1 stretched 84 km, followed by a brutal 108 km Stage 2. Recovery is key after these monster efforts, and Beers knows how to refuel right.

“Normally, after hard stages I’ll have my Neversecond recovery shake or Gary, our soigneur, makes us great burritos,” he says. It’s a simple routine, but in the chaos of a stage race, it’s the small comforts that count.

Mental stamina is just as important as physical strength. For Beers, it’s not about elaborate meditation or visualisation routines; it’s about keeping things human.

“I’ll always phone my wife Kayleigh as she goes through everything with me and we chat about racing, the cats, and her day. It’s nice to switch off from the racing.”

That balance between focus and downtime keeps him grounded, especially in the cold, wet conditions that many riders dread.

“Starting a race in the rain is definitely very mentally challenging. But I feel once I’m in it and the racing starts, I forget quickly about the conditions. I do well in the cold conditions, so I actually thrive.”

Training is intense, with 20–30 hours on the bike each week, but Beers keeps it interesting with podcasts about nutrition and cycling, and for high-intensity intervals, a little heavy metal thanks to his dad.

“I listen to a lot of podcasts while training. There’s tons of great information about nutrition and all things to do with cycling. I also listen for intervals, mainly heavy metal, haha, that’s thanks to my dad,” he says.

Sleep is sacred too, aided by a white-noise fan to block out the inevitable camp chatter. After the day’s effort, he debriefs with Gary-John Sylvester, his physio, chats with Kayleigh, his wife, and catches up on messages from fans and supporters.

Peak performance doesn’t come easy. Stress and pressure are constant companions, especially when leading the general classification.

“It’s definitely very stressful, but I also just try and enjoy the moment as it’s never guaranteed … Being in it means you’ve had a great day or race, so I try and enjoy it and remind myself, when I’m stressed.”

Nutrition is another battlefield. Beers keeps it simple but effective: rice, cornflakes, and Coco Pops dominate his carb-loading, topped off with relentless hydration. “Hydration and carbs are king in a tough stage race like this, and you need to keep your glycogen stores topped up to the maximum,” he says.

As the final stages approach, Beers holds the overall lead, having claimed Stage 4 victory over the 111 km loop at Blaauwater Farm near Compassberg and now leads second‑place Simon Pellaud by 57 seconds in the General Classification after Stage 4.

Stage 5 victory went to Tom Pidcock, but Beers defended his lead.

Gravel Burn features roughly 800 km over seven stages with more than 11 000 metres of climbing, and with only a couple of stages left, every second counts.

Beers has handled the pressure like a pro, maintaining focus, pacing smartly, and using his home-ground knowledge to navigate the twists, climbs, and gravel transitions.

If he holds on, it will be a home-soil triumph, South African gravel talent defending his event under pressure and proving why he’s a name to watch