LOOP Safari Gravel Series: Schleck, Aleper Triumph In Vipingo

^{Jordan Schleck (1), Joel Kyaviro (2) and Stanley Ngugi (3), winners of the 120km LOOP Safari Gravel Series in Vipingo with NCBA Group Director of Retail Banking Tirus Mwithiga. PHOTO/ LOOP Safari Gravel Series}

The vipingo edition attracted over 200 participants, ranging from elite cyclists in the 120KM race to enthusiasts in the 60KM and recreational riders in the 20KM race.

KILIFI, Kenya- Jordan Schleck who was the winner of the first leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series held in Tatu City, once again showcased exceptional endurance, securing the first position with a time of 4:40:50 hrs in the 120KM LOOP men’s elite category during the 4th and final leg of the 2024 LOOP Safari Gravel Series held Vipingo Ridge- Kilifi County.

Joel Kyaviro and Stanley Ngugi claimed second and third positions, clocking 4:57:37hrs and 5:00:55 hrs respectively.  In the women’s category, Aleper Mary who emerged third in the Hells Gate Edition made an incredible comeback with a victorious time of 6:26:16 hrs, followed by Kendra Masige and Monica Jelimo at 6:42:00 hrs and 6:46:12 hrs respectively.

The final leg also saw the overall series team winners awarded with Black Mamba taking the grand prize of KES 250,000, Kenyan Riders secured second position and won KES 200,000 while Ariyas Solar Vortex were in third place winning KES 150,000.

Reflecting on his victory, Jordan Schleck said, “Winning the final leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series wasn’t easy, but I was prepared for the challenge. The course at Vipingo Ridge was tough, but I knew what to expect and pushed myself to the limit. The support from fellow riders and the incredible atmosphere made it all worthwhile.”

The 60KM LOOP featured strong competition, with Rosemary Wairimu emerging the overall winner with a time of 2:03:47 hrs. Nicholas Barasa won in the men category with a time of 2:03:49 hrs.

The 20KM LOOP category provided a more relaxed challenge for recreational cyclists and junior participants, with Kelvin Kazungu and Kate Crowley emerging the winner in the men and women category with a time of 1:40:09 hrs and 1:42:01 hrs respectively.

The Vipingo leg saw entry of new sponsors, including Visa, while Huawei continued as the prize money sponsor, awarding KES 20,000, KES15,000 and KES10,000 respectively for the top three positions in the 120KM men’s and women’s elite races.

Speaking at the event in Vipingo, LOOP Digital Financial Services CEO Eric Muriuki said, “The final leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series in Vipingo was a true celebration of athleticism and perseverance. The journey from the first leg to this grand finale was nothing short of remarkable. We’ve seen the sport grow, with more participants and higher levels of competition at each stage. Our commitment to nurturing this sport is stronger than ever, and we are already looking forward to next year’s series, where we plan to build on this year’s success with new challenges and expanded partnerships. We aim to create a platform for cycling as an enterprise to benefit cyclist and as a platform where through partnerships corporates can get value.”

In line with LOOP DFS’s commitment to sustainability, participants also planted over 200 trees during the event, contributing to environmental conservation efforts in the region.

“Our focus on sustainability is core to our mission. We are committed to supporting initiatives like tree planting as part of our effort to combat climate change, protect biodiversity, and ensure a greener future for the next generation,” added Mr. Muriuki.

The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organized by AMANI Project, with LOOP DFS as the title sponsors and Huawei as the prize money sponsor. It features three categories including 20KM for amateurs, 60KM LOOP for cycling enthusiasts, and 120KM LOOP for professional cyclist, attracting both local and international riders. The series stared off in Tatu city with the 2nd leg moving to Iten and 3rd leg to Hells gate In Naivasha.