Jordan Schleck says it took a lot of effort to once again win the elite category of the 120km race during the fourth and final leg of the 2024 Loop Safari Gravel Series at Vipingo Ridge, Kilifi over the weekend.
He won in a time of 4:40:50 hours ahead of Joel Kyaviro (4:57:37) and Stanley Ngugi (5:00:55 hours) who rounded out the podium.
"Winning the final leg of the Loop Safari Gravel Series wasn’t easy. However, I was prepared for the challenge and knew exactly what to do," Schleck reflected.
He added: "The course at Vipingo Ridge was tough but I didn't expect it to be otherwise. I pushed myself to the limit. The support from fellow riders and the incredible atmosphere made it all worthwhile."
In the women’s elite category, Aleper Mary, who had placed third in the Hells Gate edition, made a strong comeback, winning in a time of 6:26:16 hours.
Kendra Masige and Monica Jelimo followed in 6:42:00 and 6:46:12 hours respectively.
After the series' final leg, Black Mamba clinched the top spot to return home with a grand prize of Sh 250,000. Kenyan Riders took second place, and a cash award of 200,000 while Ariyas Solar Vortex finished third to secure Sh150,000.
In the 60km Loop, Rosemary Wairimu emerged victorious with a time of 2:03:47 hours while Nicholas Barasa won the men’s category after clocking 2:03:49 hours.
The 20km Loop, designed as a more relaxed challenge for recreational cyclists and junior participants, saw Kelvin Kazungu and Kate Crowley win the men’s and women’s categories with times of 1:40:09 hours and 1:42:01 hours respectively.
Speaking at the event, Loop Digital Financial Services CEO Eric Muriuki highlighted the success of the series. “The final leg of the Safari Gravel Series in Vipingo was a true celebration of athleticism and perseverance.
"The journey from the first leg to this Grand Finale has been nothing short of remarkable. We’ve seen the sport grow, with more participants and higher levels of competition at each stage,” Muriuki said.
“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 cyclists and as a platform where, through partnerships, corporates can get value.”
The series kicked off in Tatu City, with subsequent legs in Iten and Hells Gate in Naivasha before culminating in Vipingo Ridge.
