The inaugural Nedbank Gravel Burn 2025 took riders on a seven-day, ~800 km odyssey through the vast and remote landscapes of South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape.

The terrain? From coastal forest escapes to the arid heart of the Great Karoo - gravel, washboards, sand, rocks and tailwinds that could bully you off your line.

And into that world we sent one of our own: two-time Olympic triathlon champion Alistair Brownlee - suited up in the new for 2025 Spatzwear Fasta Race Suit - to not only race, but to test some fresh product ideas in the wild.

Alistair’s adventure

Alistair came into the Gravel Burn not chasing podiums, but looking for adventure. Post-pro career, he’s after the ride, the terrain, the freedom. As he put it:

“I’m not in it for the win. I’m here for the enjoyment. But of course, I’m still going to go as hard as I can.” 
Over the week he dealt with everything from punctures to tailwinds turned headwinds, from remote camps under stars to gravel roads that challenge even the toughest legs. He placed respectably - at Stage 6 he posted a time of 5:53 behind the stage winner. 
But more importantly for us: he donned the Fasta Race Suit and put our 2025 line through its paces in real world conditions that would separate good kit from great.

Why this matters for Spatzwear

• Real terrain = real testing. No studio simulation. Alistair poured hours of riding into the suit across sand, rock-grit, and heat.
• Durability and form. Gravel racing isn’t forgiving. The Fasta had to cope with jarring surfaces, dust, sun. The fact it held together while looking sharp is a big tick.
• Feedback loop. Direct input from Alistair means our next-gen kit benefits from elite mindset, yet remains grounded in gear you’ll want to ride in.
• Story-telling power. This isn’t just a product launch. It’s a narrative: legend meets gravel, Spatzwear meets adventure. It gives the Fasta context beyond “fast suit”.

Highlights from the week in kit

• The Fasta’s aerodynamic cut stayed form-tight even when the road didn’t. With gravel comes variable speeds and surfaces - and the suit didn’t flap or drag.
• Sweat wicking and thermal management showed their value. In the Karoo, you shift from cool morning to blazing midday in moments - the kit kept up.
• Build quality passed the test. Chain-ring grit, tyre-tumble, exposed DRY add-ons -the stitching, fabrics and panels bore duty.
• Comfort under load mattered. Seven days, long rides, off-road chatter - comfort equals usable performance. The grid performance of Fasta impressed.

What’s next for 2025 & beyond

With Alistair’s input and this Gravel Burn trial completed, we’ll be refining Fasta further: materials, fit, panel placement for mixed terrain and multi-discipline riders.Expect this story to feature more in our launch campaigns, social content and behind-the-scenes footage: the suit in action, not just on the hanger.

Final word

Watching Alistair ride through the Karoo in the Fasta Race Suit reminded us exactly why we build this kit: for riders who demand more than safe roads, who want dust, rocks, adventure - and they want to look good doing it.

If you’re thinking about stepping up your gravel game, or just want kit that feels as ready as you are - stay tuned. This was our test. And we passed it.