Toyota to Support 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn
The manufacturer will provide 16 support vehicles for the 750km South African gravel race starting 25 October 2026.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Cycling
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Toyota South Africa Motors has renewed its partnership for the 2026 Nedbank Gravel Burn, set to take place from 25 October to 31 October 2026. The seven-day stage race covers 750km across the Great Karoo.
Why it matters
The partnership continues to support professional cycling development through the sponsorship of the Toyota Specialized Off-Road and Toyota Specialized Imbuko teams. Toyota also aims to highlight performance through the introduction of a new jersey category.
The event spans 750km over 7 days, with 16 Toyota vehicles utilised for operational support. The new Toyota Power Climber Jersey will be contested specifically across 3 of the 7 scheduled stages.
The players
Toyota South Africa Motors
This is the South African subsidiary of the Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer.
Nedbank
This is a prominent South African financial services group that serves as the title sponsor for the gravel race.
Shamwari Private Game Reserve
This is a renowned conservation area located in the Eastern Cape province.
The details
The race departs from Robert Sobukwe town and concludes at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve. A newly introduced Toyota Power Climber Jersey will recognise the top uphill riders within the Pro and Age Group categories.
Timeline
25 October 2026: The race departs from Robert Sobukwe town.
31 October 2026: The race finishes at Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Season Trajectory
The partnership strengthens the connection between automotive support fleets and the growing popularity of multi-day gravel racing in the Great Karoo. It positions the brand to influence the season rankings by rewarding climbing specialists through the new jersey classification.
Professional riders and Age Group competitors will now compete for the Power Climber Jersey across three stages of the 750km race. This jersey award adds a new tactical objective for climbers aiming to improve their standing in the final general classification.
The takeaway
The addition of the Power Climber Jersey provides a new metric for assessing rider strength on steep terrain. Competitors should prepare for high-intensity efforts during the three designated climbing stages of the seven-day event.
What happens next
The Nedbank Gravel Burn is scheduled to depart from Robert Sobukwe on 25 October 2026 and conclude at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve on 31 October 2026.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming competitive cycling events, explore the latest updates on Cycling.
More information
View details about the brand's community engagements on the Toyota Community Sponsorships portal.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Thee Sneak Preview - Learn & Grow Together.
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