It’s always a pleasure to talk with Alison Jackson. The Canadian international rider — a three-time Canadian national road champion and winner of the vaunted Paris-Roubaix Femmes in 2023 — brings equal parts performance drive and infectious energy to everything she does. We met last week ahead of the upcoming Gravel Burn event and left inspired.
At Amacx, we’re proud to be a sponsor of Nedbank Gravel Burn, supporting riders at every stage of the race. Our nutrition will be available at the event’s iconic padstals (the aid and nutrition stations where riders refuel each day) and our team will be on the ground following our athletes like Alison Jackson and Tom Pidcock throughout the week. It’s the perfect setting to showcase what fueling smartly can do when adventure meets performance.
Nedbank Gravel Burn is a once in a lifetime experience: it’s a seven-stage, approximately 800 km solo gravel stage race across South Africa’s Western and Eastern Cape, with roughly 11,000 m of climbing through forests, Karoo semi-desert and bushveld terrain. It kicks off 26 October and runs through 1 November 2025. This is Alison’s first time racing this style of event, and it’s the kind of adventure she’s drawn to.
From Prairie Roads to Gravel Worlds
“I grew up in Canada, in a small town where about 75% of the roads were gravel,” Alison said. “So, in a way, I’ve always ridden gravel, even before it was cool.”
In the past years, gravel events came in quieter weeks of her road calendar. “I filled some open weeks with gravel events. It felt like training, but fun. You can ride hard without it being about pure results.”
Now, she’s bringing that mindset into Nedbank Gravel Burn: a professional rider with serious form, yet ready to embrace the fun, the unknown and the scenery.
A Journey Within a Journey
Alison’s road season in 2025 has already been strong. She placed fifth in Paris-Roubaix and followed that with a seventh place finish at the Amstel Gold Race. She also claimed the Canadian road race national title for the third time this year.
For her, accepting the Gravel Burn invitation wasn’t just about racing; it was about the broader experience. “I wanted to connect it all,” she said: the travel, the volunteering (she recently spent time with the NGO Hope Ethiopia), and then this week of gravel racing. “It’s all part of one story.”
Friend and fellow rider Maddy Nutt gave the final push: “She just said, ‘You have to come, it’s going to be so fun,’ and that was enough for me,” Alison smiled.
Fueling for Performance (Even When It’s for Fun)
Just because this is a “fun” event doesn’t mean the performance side takes a backseat. In fact, in a multi-day gravel race like this one, nutrition, hydration and recovery are fundamental.
Alison explained: “I’m restarting my season here — so I won’t be at 100 % peak form, but I’m detrained and really fresh. I want to see where that takes me.”
The nature of the event demands a smart approach: seven stage days, long hours, remote terrain, fluctuating temperature, and limited downtime each night. Riders will face warm daytime temperatures (the Karoo region typically sees highs in the mid-20s °C in October, dropping sharply at night). That means careful hydration, electrolyte balance, attention to how the body is changing across days. It’s extra important when it’s not just one big effort, but repeated efforts.
Alison’s plan: bring the core nutrition from the start. “The Amacx Turbo products are great because you can pack in more carbs in one shot, and I’ll mix those with Amacx Hydro Tabs for electrolytes. I’m targeting around 100 g of carbs per hour and in the first few days my plan is to not stop at the padstals. We’ll see how that feels early on.
For recovery: “After each stage I’ll go for the Cherry Juice and a liter of fluids right after the finish. Plus, Amacx Recovery Shake with milk in the hours that follow. And I honestly love the Salted Caramel Recovery Bar too, that’s my go-to snack.”
Given the terrain and remote nature of the event (sharp rocks, washboard roads, long climbs) riders will inevitably face some fatigue. Nutrition and recovery become the difference between enjoying the experience and simply surviving it, and as Amacx, we’re super proud to fuel our athletes with this in mind.
Sleeping Bags, Campfires and Community
During the race week, Alison will be riding and staying in the full “camp life” set-up: single-occupancy canvas tents and shared fire-side meals with other riders. How does she feel about that?
“One of my superpowers is being able to sleep anywhere, anytime,” she laughed. “Even in Ethiopia I was roughing it, so this will feel pretty normal.”
But it’s more than comfort, it’s her mindset that impresses us the most. “I think everything is awesome,” she said. “Even if something goes wrong or you don’t sleep well, it’s still a story to tell later. That’s what makes it great.”
Gravel Burn also has a strong community vibe. Pros are riding alongside ambitious amateurs, sharing daily stories, supporting each other on some of the toughest terrain. “When you do something hard together, you make real connections,” Alison reflected. “Whether you’re a pro or amateur, you ride the same kilometres and that creates a shared experience.”
Gravel, But Make It Fun
When asked what she’s packing that we might not expect, Alison grinned. “Yes, I’m bringing a Halloween costume, it will be a surprise for everyone.” Classic Alison: a pro athlete who knows how to have a laugh. “At the end of the day,” she said, “I’m here because I love the bike. You can still have high-performance goals and have fun doing it.”
And in case you doubted it, yes - when things get tough on those long stages, she’ll have a soundtrack ready: Better Now by Post Malone. “That’ll be in my head when the legs burn. Because things are going to get better now.”
Amacx at Gravel Burn
At Amacx we’re honoured to support Alison and her team EF Education–Oatly through this iconic week of gravel racing. As the official nutrition partner of Gravel Burn, we’ll be providing fuel, hydration and recovery support to all riders from the feed zones to the Burn Camps. With world-class athletes like Alison trusting our products when the terrain, temperature and stakes demand it, we’re confident we’re staying true to our philosophy: Fueling Made Easy. Easy to count, easy for your gut and easy to enjoy.
The Closing Word
Gravel Burn is a reminder that cycling isn’t always about chasing the next podium. It’s about the ride, the terrain, the people and the memories. Nutrition is what lets you show up, day after day, sustainably. Hydration, recovery and the right fuel aren’t extras, they’re the foundation. Alison Jackson knows that. We know that. And at Amacx we believe that when you bring the right fuel, the right mindset and a spirit of adventure, extraordinary things can happen.
Here’s to seven days, 800 km and one unforgettable gravel week.
Photo credits: Getty Images & Yannick Schurwanz.
