Kenneth Karaya.
Dinnah Safari of Airpocket and Kenneth Karaya of Black Mamba Development Squad are optimistic about securing more victories in this year’s LOOP Safari Gravel Series following a successful start over the weekend.
The pair claimed top honors in the elite 100km women’s and men’s races respectively as the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series commenced at the renowned Limuru Country Club on Saturday.
The event served as a strong beginning to Season Three of East Africa’s premier gravel cycling series, drawing a record 822 elite and recreational cyclists from throughout the region.
In the women’s race, Safari emerged victorious after a strategic ride, recording a time of 04:08:04.
She was trailed by Kendra Masiga (04:09:23) of Team Loop Squad in second position, while Team Ariya Finergy Solar Vortex captain Monica Jelimo (04:12:52) placed third to complete the podium.
“I am delighted with my win in the first leg of the 2026 series,” said Safari.
“It was part of our team’s strategy and I’m pleased it succeeded. The race started challenging, but I managed to separate from the group. I’m expecting more wins in the coming races and I’m confident they will arrive.”
Kenya National Men’s Gravel Champion Karaya delivered a dominant performance to claim the men’s title in 03:06:50.
He was narrowly followed by teammate Stanley Ngugi (03:10:32), while Uganda’s Jordan Schleck secured third place in 03:13:35.
“This victory serves as significant motivation for me to train harder and perform well in the remaining races this year,” Karaya stated.
“The race began slowly and the course was quite muddy, but we eventually increased the pace. My strategy was to push hard and it proved effective.”
In the men’s 50km category, Ishmael Imani secured first place in 02:05:31, closely followed by Ian Wanyeki (02:05:50) and Kelvin Kamore (02:06:18).
Joanne Carroll claimed victory in the women’s race with a time of 02:28:17, with Jill Magrath (02:31:43) and Nira Mwangi (02:33:09) finishing second and third respectively.
The 20km and 5km races attracted an impressive turnout of recreational riders and junior cyclists, demonstrating the series’ commitment to inclusivity and grassroots development.
The top five finishers in the elite 100km races for both men and women received cash prizes of KES 20,000, KES 15,000, KES 10,000, KES 7,000, and KES 5,000 respectively.
The 2026 calendar now proceeds to Naivasha on June 13 for the UCI-accredited second leg, followed by the Coast edition in Vipingo on August 28.
The season will conclude on October 24 with the highly anticipated Riders’ Choice edition, where cyclists vote to determine the final destination.
Organized by Amani Project in collaboration with LOOP Digital Financial Services as the title sponsor, the LOOP Safari Gravel Series continues to foster a thriving cycling culture, nurture emerging talent, and showcase Kenya’s stunning landscapes to the world.