About 500 cyclists are expected at the third leg of the Loop Safari Gravel Series at Hell’s Gate National Park in Naivasha on Saturday.
The event, organised by Loop Digital Financial Services and Team Amani, will serve as a UCI Gravel World Series qualifier.
The Naivasha edition will feature three categories 20km, 60km and 120km at the 123km course that takes riders through the picturesque landscapes of Hell’s Gate National Park, including the famous "Pride Rock."
The surface is predominantly gravel, with varying surfaces such as red clay, single track, and game trails. The course is challenging due to its altitude and elevation profile, with a total elevation gain of 2680 metres.
The event will start at Elsa’s Gate and feature a mix of gravel and paved sections. The main difficulty lies between kilometres 50-80, where riders will face a steep climb to the highest point surrounding the Oserian Wildlife Sanctuary before returning to the finish at the Naivasha Simba Lodge.
Loop CEO Eric Muriuki said: "We are delighted to bring the third leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series to the breathtaking Hell’s Gate National Park. This event not only showcases the incredible talent of East African cyclists but also highlights the natural beauty of our country. We look forward to welcoming riders and spectators from around the region for a day of competitive racing and fun."
For qualification purposes for the World Championships, riders finishing in the top 25 per cent of their category will be qualified.
Additionally, the first three riders in each official category will qualify directly for the World Championships, regardless of the number of starters in that age group. Riders must finish the race to qualify.
To adhere to UCI rules, the event will feature two distances for older age groups. Elites, men 19-59 years old and women 19-49 years old will compete in the long distance to qualify, while men 60+ and women 50+ will compete in the short distance.