Jordan Schleck continued with his superlative performance, winning the second leg of 2025 Safari Gravel Series held at the Machakos People’s Park today.
The race, which attracted over 350 elite and recreational cyclists from across East Africa, tested riders’ endurance and skill against the challenging terrain of Machakos’ rolling hills and lush greenery.
Schleck, a three-time champion, powered through the 120km elite men’s race to secure victory at a time of 3:37:09 followed by Ndungu Kieya at 3:45:32, while Ivan Kipruto took third place at 03:45:56.
This victory marks Schleck’s second consecutive win, following his triumph in the series’ opening leg at Tatu City last month.
Reflecting on his performance, Schleck, who competes under the Team Amani umbrella, said, “I was consistent throughout these two opening legs of the series. The terrain at Machakos was rough, hilly, and rocky, but you have to be ready to take on these gravels. I am looking forward to continuing this trajectory as we move on to the rest of the legs of the series.”
The women’s elite category witnessed an equally fierce contest, with Julia Alice Ndungu claiming victory in 05:06:20, ahead of Ditona Martinie, who finished in 05:25:11. Margaret Ashley Mutuku took the third position with a time of 06:41:11.
Ndungu said, “I’m really proud to have finished first in the women’s category. It was a tough race with the intense sun, but I stuck to my strategy and gave it my all to take the win.”
In the 60km Michael Matindi clinched the top spot with a time of 2:29:33 , closely followed by Victor Ngugi and Martin Ngari , who clocked 02:30:25 and 02:31:32, respectively. The 20-kilometre race welcomed a diverse group of recreational cyclists and junior participants, further fostering inclusivity in the event.
The top five winners in the elite 120-kilometre race, both men and women, were awarded cash prizes of KES 20,000, KES 15,000, KES 10,000, KES 7,000, and KES 5,000, respectively. In the team category, black mamba emerged victorious, taking home KES 125,000, while Ariya Finergy and Factor Racing East Africa secured second and third place with prizes of KES 100,000 and KES 70,000, respectively.
As the series gains momentum, the next stop for the third and fourth leg will be in Naivasha on June 14, followed by the grand finale at Vipingo on August 23.