Matthew Beers held off Tristan Nortje by a single second on Saturday 25 July 2026 to win the 100-mile Around the Pot gravel race, claiming a third consecutive title after victories in 2024 and 2025. Beers crossed the finish line in Swellendam, South Africa, in 03:52:37, with Nortje, his Toyota Specialized Imbuko teammate, right behind in 03:52:38. Alexander Miller took third, 3 minutes 12 seconds back, ahead of another Toyota Specialized Imbuko rider, Marco Joubert, in fourth.
In the women’s 100-mile race, Lisa Bone rode away from the field to win in 04:35:41. The 27-year-old Enza Construction Cycle Nation rider arrives off a breakthrough 2026 season, having also won the Cape Town Cycle Tour in March ahead of Russian gravel world champion Daria Pravilova and American MTB marathon world champion Kate Courtney. Chloe Bishop and Catherine Kruger crossed together for second and third, both clocking 04:51:50, 16 minutes 9 seconds behind Bone. Danielle Du Toit rounded out the top four.
Over the shorter 60-mile course, Lize Cornelius was the fastest woman home while also winning the 40-44 category in 02:49:34. After finishing last year’s 100-mile race in third, her decision to switch to the shorter course paid off. In the men’s 60-mile race, Jean-Pierre Du Plessis claimed the title in 02:32:35, with David Garrett second, 10 minutes 18 seconds back, and Rudolf Janse van Rensburg third.
Organized by the team behind the famous Cape Town Cycle Tour, Around the Pot is now in its second year as a UCI Gravel World Championship qualifying race. The top 25% of finishers in each age and gender category earn qualification for the world championships, set for 10-11 October 2026 in Nannup, Western Australia.
Photo Credit: Around the Pot
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