-This will be the 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel Series finals featuring over 300 Local and International riders.
-Organizer Amani Project has set a share prize money pot of Ksh. 1,980,000 up for grabs.
MAARUFU MOHAMED-GOLFNEWSLINKS.
Defending Champion Jordan Schleck has confirmed his presence in the Kenya National Gravel Championship race kicking off at the Kenya’s Coastal Vipingo Baobab ridge in Kilifi County on Saturday featuring an estimated 300 local and International riders.
“I have been training hard in preparation for this event and completely ready to defend my title,”said Schleck.
The much-anticipated 2025 LOOP Safari Gravel series organized by the Amani Project with LOOP DFS as the title sponsor and will be the fourth and final leg that marks the end of a thrilling four-stop journey which has taken cyclists through Tatu City, Machakos, and Naivasha.
Amani Chief Operating Officer (COO) Hanifa Said in a statement yesterday noted that this race continues to play a pivotal role in growing cycling in East Africa while promoting sustainable tourism and community development.
“This final leg is expected to blend the Coastal beauty covered in rugged terrain with gravel stretches, rolling hills, and technical segments that demand both physical strength and tactical riding, “said Hanifa.
She pointed out that beyond the race, spectators expect to enjoy a festival-like atmosphere featuring music, food, and family-friendly activities, making it an unmissable event for sports and lifestyle enthusiasts alike, “said Hanifa.
Hanifa said the event 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.
Hanifa said LOOP DFS came on board as title sponsors of the race over mutual objectives in growing the sport of cycling in Kenya and increasing its fan base to allow for the aspiring youth to have more racing opportunities and grow through to the professional ranks.
“AMANI has since established a team base camp where 30 riders from across East Africa are training and racing for
the professional teams across the globe, marking significant grounds in the sport for cyclists in East Africa and has a goal of reaching the Tour de France, with the first all East African team by 2033,” noted Hanifa.
She further explained that Gravel is one of the fastest growing disciplines in cycling globally, with easy access to racing and open to all abilities.
Hanifa said that the format with the series consists of four events that take place across the country namely Nairobi/Kiambu, Rift Valley, Machakos/Laikipia/Nyeri, Hell’s Gate Naivasha and the Coastal region, with one location rotating each year to expose a new audience to the sport.
She further explained that the Vipingo leg of the series this year will co-host alongside the Kenya Cycling Federation, the Kenya National Gravel Championships, marking a milestone in the growth of the sporting discipline in the country.
LOOP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Digital Financial Services (DFS) Eric Muriuki said that the Series has been phenomenal and has embodied the bold spirit to 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,” said Muriuki.
According to the programme, the National Championship categories for both women and men will be the Elite (23+ years)-120 km, U23-120km, U21-60km, U18-60 km, U17-30 km, U15-30 km, U14-30 km, Veterans (40-50 years)-60 km and Masters (50+ years)-60 km.
The National champions in each category will be the winners in their respective distances, both female and male and be awarded the National Champions Jersey that they are to wear for the next year.
The stakes will be high for competitors with up to Ksh. 352,000 up for grabs with the winning team expect to 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.
The recent Naivasha leg of the series which was a UCI-accredited event that saw Belgium’s Lukas Mzewski deliver a commanding performance to win the elite men’s 120-kilometre raceby clocking an impressive time of 3:45:03.
He 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.
ENDS.
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