-The Vipingo course will blend coastal beauty covered in rugged terrain with gravel stretches, rolling hills, and technical segments that demand both physical strength and tactical riding.
-Beyond the race, spectators can enjoy a festival-like atmosphere featuring music, food, and family-friendly activities, making it an unmissable event for sports and lifestyle enthusiasts alike.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
The 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel Series is set to conclude on Saturday,23rd, August 23, with the much-anticipated Vipingo Ridge edition in Kilifi County.
This fourth and final leg marks the end of a thrilling four-stop journey that has taken cyclists through Tatu City, Machakos, and Naivasha.
The Vipingo race is expected to attract over 300 cyclists including elite riders from across East Africa and beyond as well as passionate amateurs’ eager to test themselves on one of the most scenic yet challenging courses on the Kenyan coast.
The stakes will be high for competitors with up to Ksh. 352,000 up for grabs and the winning team will take home Ksh. 125,000 while the second and third-placed teams to receive Ksh. 100,000 and Ksh.70,000 respectively.
The top five finishers in the elite 120-kilometre race for both men and women set to claim cash prizes of Ksh. 20,000, Ksh. 15,000, Ksh. 10,000, Ksh. 7,000, and Ksh. 5,000, respectively.
LOOP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Digital Financial Services (DFS) Eric Muriuki said, “The 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel Series has been phenomenal and has embodied the bold spirit we champion for, whether in sport, business, or personal growth. From Tatu City, to Machakos, to Naivasha, and now Vipingo, we have seen communities of cyclists turn up in large numbers to compete and network. Vipingo will be a fitting end to the season, bringing together the thrill of competition, the beauty of our country, and the power of sport to inspire.”
The Vipingo course will blend coastal beauty covered in rugged terrain with gravel stretches, rolling hills, and technical segments that demand both physical strength and tactical riding.
Beyond the race, spectators can enjoy a festival-like atmosphere featuring music, food, and family-friendly activities, making it an unmissable event for sports and lifestyle enthusiasts alike.
The Naivasha leg which was a UCI-accredited event, saw Belgium’s Lukas Mzewski deliver a commanding performance to win the elite men’s 120-kilometre race, clocking an impressive time of 3:45:03 and was closely followed by Uganda’s Charles Kagimu (3:45:04) and Germany’s Lukas Baum (3:45:05), who claimed second and third positions respectively after a thrilling sprint finish.
In the women’s elite category, Canada’s Haley Smith clinched victory with a time of 4:32:10 with Rwanda’s Claudette Nyirahabimana following in 4:38:48 while Germany’s Svenja Betz secured third place in 4:44:37.
The 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organized by the Amani Project with LOOP DFS as the title sponsor.
The series continues to play a pivotal role in growing cycling in East Africa while promoting sustainable tourism and community development.
LOOP DFS is a Pan-African fintech fully owned by the NCBA Group.
With over 14 years of innovation, LOOP DFS has been at the forefront of financial inclusion, empowering more than 68 million customers across five (5) African markets through technology-driven solutions. Since pioneering mobile lending and savings in 2012, LOOP DFS has continuously evolved to redefine the digital finance ecosystem.
Beyond financial services, LOOP, the main product for LOOP DFS, is a lifestyle brand anchored on finance.
It seamlessly blends innovative technology with everyday experiences to empower individuals and communities.
Leveraging a platform strategy, LOOP DFS aspires to be the greatest catalyst for growth and transformation across Africa.
The Amani Project, conceived in 2019, is aimed at enhancing inclusivity and creating opportunity for riders based in East Africa.
Team Amani is the only all East African Professional cycling team on the world gravel stage.
The explosion of the gravel racing scene in the US and Europe expedited the break-down of barriers in cycling, making it more accessible to professional cyclists from East Africa.
While creating racing opportunities in Europe is a key focus area, building independent financial models for local teams and helping to foster indigenous cycling culture is amongst the AMANI project goals.
AMANI has thus far set a precedent for elite performances on the world stage and through its development projects (The AMANI House), the talent pool in East Africa is bound to grow giving rise to the future champions in the sport of cycling.
ENDS.
KINDLY ADVERTISE WITH US.
AND IF YOU WANT YOUR GOLF/SPORTS/BUSINESS/ENVIRONMENT/HEALTH/OPINIONS/SPONSORED CONTENTS OR BUSINESS PROMO FEATURED IN THIS SITE?
KINDLY CONTACT US.
mmaarufu@gmail.com.
golfnewslinks@gmail.com.
Phone/What’s up…+254726614604.
+254722415598.
