I Wanted to Quit… Then Charl Gave Up His Race | Gravel Burn Stage 5
Stage 5 of the Nedbank Gravel Burn 2026: Merino to Gwanishi. 128 km, 1,050 m up, 1,800 m down. On paper it looks downhill. It isn’t. We flew the whole route in 3D for you: out of Merino across the Grootvlakte, through two tech zones, up the Toyota Power Climb on Renosterkop at km 107, and down out of the Karoo into thicket country at Gwanishi. Race morning at Merino: David on the bean bags with a 3:10 lead in his category, Nadia van Wyk’s Stage 4 results, and Mpho Jasone from Nedbank sponsorship on why cycling is a metaphor for life. Then a very special message: happy 11th birthday, Logan. 🎂 The stage that changed the plans. “That was for me the toughest day… my toughest day racing ever.” David was in the dark and wanted to quit, and then Charl rode up to him and said: “My race is over. I’m here to help you.” The rivalry is over. The tripod is in action. Also in this one: 41.7 km/h for 60 km on gravel, three crashes (get well soon, Marco), Hayley Preen flying past, the gel Simon pulled out of his pocket that saved David’s race, the race helicopter hunting the age groupers (“I feel like a jet on Top Gun”), Matt Beers on the day, and David’s birthday jersey for Logan. David won M35–39 by ONE second (3:46:05) over Steven Bark, with Janosch Wintermantel 3rd at +2:12. He still leads his category; Charl was 4th in M19–34 and is still 2nd on GC. Burn Camp at Gwanishi, the thank-yous, and Nadia’s Stage 5 verdict to close it out: “iron sharpens iron, and brothers strengthen each other.” “This is now the time we unite.”