On a fast and furious Stage 2 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn on Monday, when a few rogue cattle interrupted proceedings just before the halfway mark, Matt Beers (Specialized Off Road Toyota) sped to victory on the pristine streets of Willowmore in the Eastern Cape.
Germany’s Lukas Baum (Orbea x Leatt Speed Company) finished second, with Swiss rider Simon Pellaud (Tudor Pro Cycling) crossing the line in third place after a day of fierce racing on “champagne gravel” – the term used to describe smooth, fast and open gravel roads. Beers now holds a slim one-minute lead over Pellaud in the General Classification after two stages of the Nedbank Gravel Burn.
“We all worked really well out there today,” said Beers of his Stage 2 efforts. “All three of us, me, Simon and Lukas, were trying to make time in the general classification, so it was a perfect scenario to have the two of them setting the pace at the front with me.”
Beers added that Baum was the main instigator of the attack that split the field. “Lukas set a super hard pace up the Shallot climb. It was really rough and I sort of slipped a little bit, but I was able to bridge the gap and Simon came with me. That was around 30 km into the stage, and after that we stayed together all the way to the finish.”
OLYMPIC FLAVOUR
No doubt buoyed by blue skies in the morning after two days of rain, and perhaps inspired to rev the engines early to shake off the overnight chill, the men’s pro field roared out of the Avontuur Burn Camp, through the farm gates and onto the tarred road to Uniondale.
The 11 km tar stretch meant the bunch stayed together until the gravel began, where a small group led by Lukas Pöstlberger (Rose Racing Circle) attempted a breakaway. Two-time Olympic gold medallist Tom Pidcock (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) was having none of that though, and quickly caught the would be leaders.
The real damage was done on the first major challenge of the day, the intriguingly named “Shallot” climb (this, after a steeper more technical climb labelled the “Onion,” was omitted from the route in favour of a more palatable option). Gourmands can figure that one out.
On the Shallot, the breakaway of the day came in the shape of Matt Beers, Lukas Baum, Tristan Nortje and Simon Pellaud putting ten seconds on the bunch. Baum pulled away slightly but was eventually caught by Beers and then Pellaud.
The three continued to work well together, racing towards the next climb of the day on “champagne gravel.” At this stage, the lead trio were able to create a sixty second gap over a 25 strong chasing bunch behind them.
Then it was a case of bovine intervention, as a herd of cattle strayed onto the route, with Beers, Baum and Pellaud able to circumvent the Karoo rush hour. The chasing pack, already a few minutes behind the three leaders, also managed to navigate the herd, with no riders or cattle harmed in the process.
From there it was high octane racing with the three riders gaining time on the chasing group at each checkpoint. Beers and Baum broke clear in the final kilometres after dropping Pellaud.
“It was fast from the Shallot climb and Lukas just pushed and pushed,” said Pellaud.
“I struggled in the technical section and was on the limit the whole time. I was out of my comfort zone a few times, for sure. Matt is so strong; he has come back to South Africa from America in great shape. It’s really impressive.”
On the straight tar road finish into Willowmore, Beers just had the edge over Baum to win his second stage of the Nedbank Gravel Burn and extend his overall lead.
FRENCH FLAIR IN WOMEN’S SECTION
Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Numéro 31 par Café du Cycliste / Pinarello) of France claimed Stage 2 in the women’s section after a storming ride where she reeled in the leaders with just metres to go.
Melisa Rollins (Liv Racing Collective) of the United States, pipped at the post after leading, finished second on the 108 km stage from Avontuur to Willowmore, with Canada’s Haley Smith (Trek Driftless / MAAP / COROS / The Feed) taking third place.
