What It Took to Win My Category at the World’s Biggest Gravel Race
The end of the road. A week after the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn, David sits down to look back on everything this series covered (the bike, the tyres, the kit, nutrition, strength work and coaching) and to say what worked, what didn’t, and what comes next. Seven stages, 653 km, 7,800 m of climbing, 21 hours 19 minutes on the bike, and the Men 35–39 leader’s jersey from Stage 1 to Stage 7. Official final GC, Men 35–39: 1. David Jenkins, 21:19:12 2. Steven Bark, +3:26 3. Janosch Wintermantel, +16:32 Thank you to Nedbank and Gravel Burn, to Team Toyota (Tasneem, Glenn, Caroline), to Barend and the VIP bicycle logistics crew, Josh and the Specialized team, Paige, Rhys, Rob at Rubber Side Down, Heather Jenkins for the custom kit, Stefan at Kiff Ideas for the stickers, and to everyone who watched, commented and sent messages along the way.