-The Vipingo race will feature 105km, 55km, and 30km routes, with more than 500 cyclists expected to take part across the three categories.
-The event has attracted elite competitors from across the East Africa region and beyond, amateur riders and recreational cyclists, continuing the series’ mission of growing gravel cycling in Kenya by providing world-class racing experiences accessible to riders of all abilities.
-The winning team will take home Ksh. 125,000 while the second and third-placed teams will receive Ksh. 100,000 and Ksh. 70,000, respectively and 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.
PR AGENCY, NAIROBI, KENYA.
Stanley Ngugi will be among the leading contenders as the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series heads to the Coast for its third leg this Saturday, 29 August at Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County, with the Kenyan rider eyeing his first victory of the season in the series after back-to-back runner-up finishes in Limuru and Naivasha.
Ngugi, who finished second in the 100km races in both legs, will be joined in the men’s elite field by Ivan Kipruto and Dan Kiptala who took part in the Evertsberg Gravel 2026 in Sweden earlier this month, alongside Ngugi.
The 19-year-old Ngugi, alongside the other riders will be seeking to challenge Uganda’s Jordan Schleck, who has dominated the Vipingo course after winning the 2024 and 2025 editions of the race and who also be aiming for a third consecutive victory at the Coastal venue, despite not yet winning a leg of this year’s series.
Kipruto, who finished third in Naivasha, will be aiming for first place after working to rectify his endurance.
“Naivasha was a good learning experience for me. My endurance dropped towards the end, but I was still able to stay with the leading pack and secure a podium finish. Since then, I have worked on my endurance and I feel much better prepared going into Vipingo. I know the competition will be strong, but I am going there with one goal which is to fight for the win,” Kipruto said.
The women’s elite race is also expected to be competitive with Kendra Masiga, Monica Jelimo and Dinnah Safari all in the line-up.
The Vipingo race will feature 105km, 55km, and 30km routes, with more than 500 cyclists expected to take part across the three categories including the Mombasa County Depty Governor Francis Thoya who is an ardent Cyclist.
The winning team will take home Ksh. 125,000 while the second and third-placed teams will 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 event has attracted elite competitors from across the East Africa region and beyond, amateur riders and recreational cyclists, continuing the series’ mission of growing gravel cycling in Kenya by providing world-class racing experiences accessible to riders of all abilities.
The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organized by The Amani Project, an initiative dedicated to developing and supporting cycling talent across East Africa, with LOOP Digital Financial Services as the title sponsor, in partnership with Vipingo Ridge and the Kenya Cycling Federation.
The Amani Project Coordinator Troy Barrie said the Vipingo edition is expected to turn up heat a little bit following the rich field.
“Vipingo is shaping up to be one of the most competitive legs of this year’s series, with a star-studded field bringing together some of the best gravel cyclists from Kenya and across the region. With riders like Stanley Ngugi, Ivan Kipruto, Dan Kiptala and the leading women’s contenders on the start line, we expect a very high level of competition. The coastal terrain will add another dimension to the race, and we are looking forward to seeing the riders push each other all the way to the finish,” said Barrie.
In Naivasha, Claudette Nyirarukundo of Rwanda and Uganda’s Lawrence Lorot emerged as the champions of the Women’s and Men’s 100KM races respectively after dramatic photo-finish conclusions.
Nyirarukundo crossed the line in the Women’s 100KM in 4:16:52, narrowly defeating Sarah Diekmeyer by one second (4:16:53) and Theresa Rindler completed the women’s podium in 4:27:23.
In the Men’s 100KM, the 21-year-old Lorot powered to victory in 3:29:04, with Ngugi a hair’s breadth behind at 3:29:05. Kipruto rounded out the top three with a time of 3:29:22.
ENDS.
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