The LOOP Safari Gravel Series will make its debut in Nanyuki on Saturday, October 17, with 600 cyclists expected to take part in the fourth leg of the 2026 season.Nanyuki is the latest addition to the Safari Gravel Series calendar after being selected by riders through a new destination-choice initiative introduced this season.##NAJAVA_MECA_9968855##The event will also give cyclists an opportunity to earn UCI points that count towards their annual world rankings after the series was elevated to a UCI-approved National Championship.Registration for the Nanyuki leg is now open through safariraceseries.com, with riders encouraged to secure their places early and combine the race with a longer stay in the region.The event will feature three routes: the 11km Chui Route, 45km Duma Route, and the 90km Simba Route for elite riders.Why Patrick Matasi believes he deserves second chance with Harambee StarsThe top five finishers in both the men’s and women’s elite 90km races will receive Ksh 20,000, Ksh 15,000, Ksh 10,000, Ksh 7,000 and Ksh 5,000 respectively.The winning team will pocket Ksh 125,000, while the second- and third-placed teams will receive Ksh 100,000 and Ksh 70,000 respectively.Speaking ahead of the Nanyuki leg, the Amani Project coordinator Troy Barrie said the new venue would provide a different setting for the series while giving riders an added incentive through the UCI points on offer.Hussein extends olive branch in bid to unlock FKF NEC stalemate“Nanyuki gives us a completely new setting for the LOOP Safari Gravel Series, and we hope it will be as interesting as the other destinations have been. Getting UCI approval makes it more appealing and of great use to cyclists who want to improve their world rankings. We have seen the cycling community grow tremendously, and we are happy to have made it possible in the series for the third year in a row. This season the competition was very stiff, and we cannot wait to see what the leg has in store,” said Barrie.The 2026 series opened in Limuru in March before moving to Naivasha in June for a UCI-accredited leg, followed by the August event at Vipingo Ridge.Uganda’s Jordan Schleck and Mary Aleper successfully defended their titles at Vipingo Ridge, winning the men’s and women’s elite 105km races respectively.Schleck retained the men’s title in 3:31:59, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Bernard Njoroge in 3:36:44, while Billy Mangwana was third in 4:08:07.Aleper won the women’s race in 4:42:24, ahead of Kenya’s Alice Miring’u in 5:24:19 and Mercy Eregae in 5:51:51.Andy Cole Omollo details challenges of adapting to life in JapanSchleck’s victory moved him to the top of the men’s overall individual standings with 270 points, followed by Stanley Ngugi on 267 and Njoroge on 254.Kendra Masiga leads the women’s standings with 250 points, ahead of Dinnah Safari on 236 and Monica Jelimo on 235.Black Mamba Development Squad tops the overall team standings with 1,306 points, followed by Ariya Finergy Solar Cycling on 1,025 and Joy Riders on 864.The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organised by the Amani Project, which focuses on developing and supporting cycling talent across East Africa. LOOP Digital Financial Services is the title sponsor, in partnership with Vipingo Ridge and the Kenya Cycling Federation.Mozzart Sport journalist earns prestigious role with U23 national team
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