UCI Gravel Qualifier in Naivasha Deepens Kenya’s Push Into International Endurance Sports Tourism

Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for endurance sports tourism will come into sharper focus this weekend as Naivasha hosts one of Africa’s few Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Gravel World Series qualifying races, drawing more than 1,000 cyclists and dozens of elite international competitors into the country’s rapidly expanding outdoor sporting circuit.

The event reflects a broader shift within the tourism and recreation economy, where competitive athletics, destination branding and conservation-linked travel are increasingly converging to create new commercial opportunities for hospitality operators, transport providers and regional tourism ecosystems.

The second leg of the 2026 LOOP Safari Gravel Series, set for June 13 at Hell’s Gate National Park, is expected to attract 38 elite riders from Africa, Europe and the United States, with participants competing across 20-kilometre, 60-kilometre and elite 111-kilometre categories.

The Naivasha edition also serves as one of only four UCI Gravel World Series qualifiers staged on the continent this year, alongside two races in South Africa and one in Namibia, giving riders an opportunity to secure qualification slots for the 2026 UCI Gravel World Championships scheduled for Nannup in Western Australia later this year.

The growing international profile of the race has intensified competition within both the men’s and women’s elite divisions, particularly after the absence of last year’s winners created space for returning podium finishers to challenge for top honours.

Uganda’s Charles Kagimu and Rwanda’s Claudette Nyirahabimana, both of whom finished second during the 2025 Naivasha edition, are expected to headline the field alongside Kenya’s Dinah Safari, Monica Jelimo, Grace Kaviro and Kendra Masiga, while Stanley Ngugi and Jordan Schleck are also expected to feature prominently within the men’s elite category.

“I have been working on my endurance since Limuru and I feel fit and ready to go this Saturday,” said Safari. “I am hoping for the best, although I anticipate that Naivasha will be a tough one given that it’s a UCI-accredited race and we will have pros from all over the world.”

Under UCI qualification rules, riders must finish within the top 25 per cent of their category to earn slots at the world championships, while the top three finishers in each official category will automatically qualify, increasing the race’s strategic importance for African cyclists seeking international ranking opportunities and wider professional visibility.

Prize allocations have also expanded alongside the event’s commercial growth, with winners of the men’s and women’s 100-kilometre races expected to receive Ksh 20,000 each, while second to fifth place finishers will earn between Ksh 15,000 and Ksh 5,000.

Team winners are set to receive Ksh 125,000, while second and third place teams will earn Ksh 100,000 and Ksh 70,000 respectively.

“UCI accreditation elevates this race from a regional event to an internationally recognized competition,” said Troy Barrie, Coordinator of The Amani Project. “It validates our efforts in course quality, safety and athlete support, creating direct pathways for African riders to earn UCI points and gain global visibility.”

Organisers say the Naivasha course has been structured to test endurance, climbing strength and technical handling across terrain consisting of red clay, gravel roads, single tracks and wildlife trails beginning at Sulmac Village.

The route incorporates a 21-kilometre opening loop, a 36-kilometre ascending gravel section and a final 40-kilometre descent, with the most demanding stretch expected between kilometres 60 and 90 along paved sections running through Hell’s Gate National Park, an area increasingly marketed as a destination for adventure tourism and outdoor sporting events.

“The UCI accreditation for our Naivasha edition this weekend enhances Kenya’s growing prominence in global cycling,” said Eric Muriuki, Chief Executive Officer of LOOP Digital Financial Services. “We are providing our athletes with a path to international recognition while showcasing our country’s unparalleled beauty.”