Beers and Dubau‑Prévôt hold lead after stage three

Matt Beers and Axelle Dubau‑Prévôt kept the men’s and women’s leader jerseys after stage three of the inaugural Gravel Burn in South Africa. The 90 km stage started in Graaff Reinet and sent riders across semi‑desert terrain with high temperatures, tough climbs and technical washboard sections that tested endurance and bike handling.

Switzerland’s Simon Pellaud won the stage in 2:43:35, with France’s Hugo Drechou taking second by three seconds over Travis Stedman; Matt Beers finished fourth, eight seconds behind the winner, but retained the overall lead. In the women’s race, American Lauren Stephens narrowly took the stage, finishing one second ahead of South Africa’s Ashleigh Moolman‑Pasio, with Canada’s Hayley Preen third. Axelle Dubau‑Prévôt placed fourth, two seconds off the winning time, preserving her orange jersey.

Stage three included substantial climbing—race coverage cited around 1,450 metres—and exposed riders to heat and rugged surfaces that increased mechanical risks and tactical complexity. Organisers and team staff reported that the day’s profile and conditions thinned the peloton and emphasized the importance of equipment management, nutrition and support logistics over long, remote sections.

Both leaders rode conservatively when necessary, responding to attacks and avoiding unnecessary risks on technical descents. Their consistency and experience proved decisive in maintaining time buffers while challengers pushed for stage results and bonus seconds. Early gaps remain small, however, and the event’s format rewards tactical opportunism; a single mechanical, navigational error or heat-related problem could reshuffle standings quickly.

With seven days and approximately 800 kilometres in total, the race moves into more demanding terrain where cumulative fatigue will shape contenders’ strategies. Teams said they will reassess tactics in support of their leaders, balancing protection against attempts to force splits on harder climbs and exposed sectors. The next stage heads toward Blaauwater and is expected to feature further elevation gains and technical stretches that could produce larger time differences.

Organisers highlighted the Gravel Burn’s combination of competitive racing and remote Karoo scenery, noting logistical challenges of staging support across sparse landscapes. Riders praised the route’s variety and difficulty, while also warning that temperatures and surface conditions require careful pacing.

As the race progresses, attention will focus on whether Beers and Dubau‑Prévôt can convert current advantages into overall victory or if aggressive moves by rivals will overturn the standings in the decisive middle stages.