This archive report was first published on 3 December 2019.
Published on December 3, 2019, the first Grand Nairobi Bike race brought together 400 participants, including Ugandan cyclist Jordan Schlek who emerged victorious in the individual professional category.
With a prize money of Sh70,000, Schlek's win was a testament to his hard work and dedication to the sport. The race, which covered 55 kilometres, started and ended at Uhuru Gardens along Lang'ata Road in Nairobi.
"We had a great time preparing for this challenge and despite the rain threatening to ruin our plans, I'm glad the roads were still suitable for the competition and the large number of enthusiasts also gave us motivation throughout the race," said Schlek.
Kenyan cyclists Geoffrey Lang'at and Niels Vander-Pilj finished second and third, taking home Sh50,000 and Sh30,000 respectively. In the women's category, Joyce Nyari emerged victorious, followed by Nancy Akinyi and Mercy Fewende.
The teams category saw Velo Nos ALP company and African Logistic Properties company take first and second place, while the Black Mamba team came in third. The total prize fund in the race was Sh500,000, with Sh300,000 shared among individual competitors and Sh200,000 going to winning teams.
The first race was a family fun race, with professional and amateur cyclists participating alongside their families in a fun 11km one lap race. The next event in the series, dubbed 'Tour to Machakos', will be held from December 12 to 15.
