Women’s race winner Mary Aleper will be heading to Kisumu to compete in the upcoming Africa Cycling Championships, after bagging a second win at the Safari Gravel Series.
Edwin Kiplagat, Marabou News Agency
Ugandan cyclists Jordan Schleck and Mary Aleper won the men’s and women’s elite races at the final leg of the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series in Nanyuki, Kenya. The season finale saw elite competitors tackle the challenging 90-kilometre Simba Route.
In the men’s race, Jordan Schleck won the title in a time of 3 hours, 57 minutes, and 44 seconds. Kenya’s Stanley Ngugi of the Black Mamba Development Squad finished second in 4:03:41, while his teammate Dan Kandagor took the final podium spot in 4:03:47.
In the women’s event, Mary Aleper of Uganda delivered a strong performance to win in 5 hours, 8 minutes, and 24 seconds, following her recent victory in the third leg at Vipingo on the Kenyan coast.
Kenya’s Monica Jelimo finished second in 5:11:54, while her teammate Alice Miring’u finished third in 5:40:45.
“The weather changed everything; it made it tougher, muddy in the forest going and coming back. It’s been a little bit slippery, but that’s racing; that’s what makes the race more exciting. It’s been fun. Happy to be back home trying to challenge myself and to create a cycling culture in gravel, so it’s been amazing,” Shleck said.
Schleck emphasised the need for increased sponsorship, noting that financial backing provides essential motivation for cyclists.
“Cycling is still growing, especially when it comes to the support. It’s still just growing. We hope we can have a lot of sponsors that come so a lot of young athletes, promising athletes, can get motivated to do these big races at the end as well when they can have something in their pockets because a lot of guys here don’t really have contracts but they always benefit from big prizes.”
Aleper will be heading to Kisumu to compete in the upcoming Africa Cycling Championships set for October 21-25, after bagging a second win at the Safari Gravel Series.
“The Limuru one didn’t go well, I had a lot of punctures and mechanical issues, so I ended up finishing sixth. When I came back for Vipingo, that was when I was pushing really hard to get a win and today to add another win to the series. It started bad but I’m glad I got two wins this season,” she said.
Individual race winners received Sh20,000 each, while second and third-place finishers earned Sh15,000 and Sh10,000, respectively. Cash prizes were also awarded down to fifth place.
Black Mamba Development Squad topped the overall standings in the team competition with 426 points to claim the Sh125,000 grand prize. Ariya Finergy Solar Cycling secured second place with 343.3 points to take home Sh100,000, while The Hub Karen finished third with 285 points for Sh70,000. Joy Riders and Kaf Falcons rounded out the top five.
The Nanyuki leg was designated as a UCI-approved National Championship course, allowing local riders to collect international ranking points.
Organised by The Amani Project in partnership with the Kenya Cycling Federation, the series aims to foster local talent and promote cycling tourism.
The Nanyuki event brought an end to a four-part season that previously made stops in Limuru, Naivasha, and Vipingo Ridge.
Marabou News Agency
Editor: George Mutero
