#8: World Series Build-Up and Gravel Goes Big

In Episode 8 of Season 2, the Diverge Podcast looks aheadto the UCI MTB World Series, which gets underway in Brazil on the 5th of April. South Africans Candice Lill, Tyler Jacobs, and Luke Moir will be in action. Then on the gravel front, Nedbank Gravel Burn continues to release information on new partners, which augurs well for the first edition in October this year.  The first event of the 2025 UCI MTB World Series takesplace in Araxá, which is inland and to the north of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. It rained heavily on the track on Thursday, and more rain is predicted for Friday as well as for Saturday afternoon. The short track XCC races could take place during a gap in the rain, on Saturday, and it looks like it could dry up for Sunday’s XCO. How the weather affects the racing remains to be seen, but hopefully the track holds up better than the Banyoles track did in February.  South African can watch the Elite Men’s and Women’sracing on SuperSport, while the U23 events, featuring Jacobs and Moir, will be broadcast on the  WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike World Series YouTube channel.  XCC: Saturday 5 April 202510:45 Local Time | 15:45 South African Time: Women U2311:25 Local Time | 16:25 South African Time: Men U2312:45 Local Time | 17:45 South African Time: Women Elite (SuperSport 6)13:25 Local Time | 18:25 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 6) XCO: Sunday 6 April 20259:00 Local Time | 14:00 South African Time: Women U2311:00 Local Time | 16:00 South African Time: Men U2313:30 Local Time | 18:30 South African Time:  Women Elite (SuperSport 10)15:30 Local Time | 20:30 South African Time: Men Elite (SuperSport 10) In the Eastern Cape the building of Burn Camps isunderway as the Grave Burn team work to prepare the remote race villages for 800 gravelistas taking on the inaugural event. Behind the scenes the sponsorship announcement press releases keep rolling out as Vida e Caffé, Disc-O-Bed, and Meerendal Wine Estate have all been announced as partners this week, joining Nedbank, Assos, and Amacx in the event’s sponsorship portfolio. This might not be the most interesting of news for riders, but it shows two things to the industry: the first being the general interest in gravel events from businesses, even those not affiliated directly with cycling; and secondly, the power of Gravel Burn founder, Kevin Vermaark, to seal deals.  For all the news covered in the Diverge Podcast and more, visit Diverge.info: Vida e caffe Set to Power Gravel BurnGravel Burn Elevates Rider Experience with Meerendal Wine Estate Partnership Disc-O-Bed Joins Gravel Burn to Redefine Event Sleep in the Karoo Amacx to Fuel Gravel Burn Riders as Official Nutrition Partner Gravel Burn Welcomes Assos as Official Cycling Apparel Partner  Follow Diverge on social media: @diverge.info on Instagram, Diverge on Facebook, @Diverge_info on X and, Diverge on YouTube. And subscribe on Spotify.