Berria, seven days on South African gravel

David Vitoria finishes third in his category and among the top 50 overall at Berria’s Gravel Burn debut, alongside the Materiel-velo.com group.

At Gravel Burn, crossing the finish line means getting ready for the next start. Recover, check the bike and set off again in the morning. Seven days of this, crossing South Africa’s Great Karoo all the way to the Shamwari Game Reserve.

Held from 25 to 31 October, the event’s second edition covered around 750 kilometres and 8,500 metres of elevation gain. Fast gravel roads, climbs and rocky sections made for a route where fatigue builds and every decision counts. Professionals and amateur riders share the trails and, at the end of each day, camp life.

That was the setting for Berria’s first appearance at the event, alongside a large French contingent brought together by Materiel-velo.com. A week of riding, racing and spending time with people who work in cycling and choose to spend their days off on a bike, too.

Among them was David Vitoria. Berria’s co-founder and CEO, and a former rider for teams such as Phonak and BMC, he arrived in South Africa looking forward to enjoying the race. Health issues affected his first two days, preventing him from performing as he had hoped.

After that, things began to change. David found his rhythm again and was able to tackle the following stages in better condition, eventually finishing third in his category and among the top 50 in the overall standings. Louis Gautheron, fourth in his category, and Florian Chabbal, fifth in his, added two more notable results for the group.

For David, the week felt familiar: being back in the thick of a race, with the day’s effort and the next stage on his mind. His commitment has changed since his days as a professional rider. The desire to compete still finds a place alongside the responsibilities of running Berria and the enjoyment of riding a bike.

That connection with cycling is part of the brand’s work. David takes part in decisions about bikes he also rides, for hours at a time and in conditions that demand far more than a first impression.

At Gravel Burn, he was able to do that for a full week, sharing the experience with other riders and returning to work with miles, impressions and conversations to take back with him.

Much more than a race.

Participants agree that Gravel Burn was much more than a sporting challenge. The spectacular landscapes, the atmosphere at the Burn Camps and the camaraderie within the group made up for the demanding days, marked by heat and technical terrain. An experience that reflects the values of gravel riding: effort, camaraderie and a passion for discovering new roads.