Stanley Ngugi will be among the leading contenders when the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series heads to Vipingo Ridge in Kilifi County for its third leg on Saturday, 29 August.The 19-year-old Kenyan is chasing his first victory of the season after finishing runner-up in the 100km races in Limuru and Naivasha.##NAJAVA_MECA_9907511##Ngugi will face a strong men’s elite field that includes Ivan Kipruto and Dan Kiptala, who competed alongside him at the Evertsberg Gravel 2026 in Sweden earlier this month.They will also have to contend with Uganda’s Jordan Schleck, who has won the Vipingo race in each of the last two editions and will be targeting a third consecutive victory at the coastal venue.Kipruto, who finished third in Naivasha, is also targeting victory after working on his endurance ahead of the coastal race.Police Bullets leave it late to edge Simba Queens in CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers“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 will feature Kendra Masiga, Monica Jelimo and Dinnah Safari among the leading contenders.The Vipingo leg will feature 105km, 55km and 30km routes, with more than 500 cyclists expected to take part.Blow for Gor Mahia as midfielder suffers injury ahead of key Champions League assignmentTroy Barrie, Coordinator of The Amani Project, expects a fiercely contested race given the quality of the 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.”The third leg comes after an exciting Naivasha round, where Uganda’s Lawrence Lorot won the men’s 100km race in 3:29:04, edging Ngugi by one second. Kipruto finished third in 3:29:22.Rwanda’s Claudette Nyirarukundo won the women’s 100km race in 4:16:52, beating Sarah Diekmeyer by one second, with Theresa Rindler third.The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organised by The Amani Project, with LOOP Digital Financial Services as the title sponsor.
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