Cyclists during the second leg of the 2026 LOOP Gravel Series in Naivasha/HANDOUTUganda's Lawrence Lorot and Rwanda's Claudette Nyirarukundo claimed dramatic victories in the men's and women's 100km races respectively after photo-finish conclusions to the second leg of the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series at Hell's Gate National Park.
The event attracted a record 956 cyclists from around the world, the highest participation for a single round since the series was launched in 2024.
The men's elite race produced edge-of-the-seat drama, with 21-year-old Lorot prevailing by just one second.
He crossed the line in 3:29:04, narrowly ahead of Stanley Ngugi, who clocked 3:29:05, while Ivan Kipruto completed the podium in 3:29:22.
Reflecting on his victory, Lorot said: "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. 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 was equally dramatic. Nyirarukundo crossed the line in 4:16:52, edging Sarah Diekmeyer by one second, with the latter finishing in 4:16:53.
Theresa Rindler completed the podium 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 here last year and I am happy to step onto the top of the podium as the winner this time around."
There was further close competition in the 60km races. Michael Matindi won the men's category in 2:16:18, just one second ahead of Ravan Ngugi, while Kelvin Kamore finished third in 2:32:44.
In the women's 60km race, Jacinta Wanjiru took victory in 3:01:24. Marit Luijckx finished second in 3:18:11, with Faith Kangichu placing third in 3:42:21.
LOOP Digital Financial Services CEO Eric Muriuki hailed both the record turnout and the growth of the competition.
"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 only four UCI Gravel World Series qualifiers in Africa," he said.
"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."
The series now heads to Vipingo Ridge for its next round in August. The LOOP Safari Gravel Series is organised by the Amani Project, an initiative dedicated to developing and supporting athletic talent across the region, with LOOP Digital Financial Services serving as title sponsor.
