Cyclists during the second leg of the 2026 LOOP Gravel Series/HANDOUT
Uganda’s Lawrence Lorot and Rwanda’s Claudette Nyirarukundo claimed the men’s and women’s 100km titles after thrilling photo-finishes in the second leg of the LOOP Safari Gravel Series held at Hell’s Gate National Park on Sunday.
The event attracted a record 956 cyclists from around the world, the highest turnout for a single leg since the series was launched in 2024. Lorot, 21, edged out Stanley Ngugi in a dramatic sprint finish to win the men’s elite race in 3:29:04, with Ngugi crossing just a second later in 3:29:05. Ivan Kipruto completed the podium in 3:29:22.
“It was a brutal pace, and you could feel the tension every kilometre. In the last few hundred metres, I just gave everything I had. Those one-second margins are what make racing special; you can train for months and still have to trust your instincts in the sprint,” said Lorot.
The Ugandan added: “I am so happy to come here and win today. I have been racing more on the road, and I am just getting into gravel. I look forward to more wins on the gravel.”
The women’s 100km race produced equally dramatic scenes as Nyirarukundo of Rwanda clocked 4:16:52 to beat Sarah Diekmeyer by a single second. Theresa Rindler finished third in 4:27:23. “The race was everything I hoped for and more. It was fast, tactical, and unpredictable,” said Nyirarukundo.
“We rode as a tight group for most of the day, and it came down to pure determination at the finish. I was second last year here, and I am happy to step onto the podium as the winner this time around,” she added.
In the men’s 60km race, Michael Matindi secured victory in 2:16:18, narrowly defeating Ravan Ngugi, who finished in 2:16:19. Kelvin Kamore placed third in 2:32:44. Jacinta Wanjiru dominated the women’s 60km event, winning in 3:01:24 ahead of Marit Luijckx (3:18:11) and Faith Kangichu (3:42:21).
LOOP Digital Financial Services CEO Eric Muriuki hailed the event’s growth and significance on the continent. “Today’s turnout of 956 riders and the calibre of competition demonstrate that LOOP Safari Gravel has matured into a marquee event on the continent, being one of the only four UCI Gravel World Series Qualifiers in Africa,” said Muriuki.
“Our goal has always been to build an inclusive, challenging platform that elevates gravel cycling in Africa, and today we witnessed that vision in full. We thank the athletes, volunteers, partners and Hell’s Gate National Park for making this edition unforgettable,” he added.
The series now shifts focus to the Vipingo Ridge edition scheduled for August. The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organised by the Amani Project, which supports the development of cycling talent across the region, with LOOP Digital Financial Services serving as the title sponsor.
