RoadAnnual Event

Kaptagat Cycling Challenge

Saturday, 3 July 2027 · 9:00 AM

📅The 2026 edition concluded successfully on 4th July 2026. This page now shows the 2027 edition. Dates TBC

Kenya's flagship 'Cycling for Forests' road race through the high-altitude Kaptagat Forest ecosystem, combining competitive sport with forest restoration and community conservation.

Kaptagat Farm Resort, Kaptagat

9:00 AM

80km

960m

KES 500 (Early Bird by 23 June)→KES 1,000 (Standard by 2 July)

Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme

+254 721 771 542→+254 710 101 026

kaptagat-icp.org

@kaptagaticp Facebook @kaptagat_icp

Registration opens closer to race day

The poster in use is the 2026 version. We will update it with the 2027 version once it is made available.

Coming up

50 weeks to go

Saturday morning

Base-building phase.

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Consistent easy effort is the goal. Build aerobic fitness and establish the habit. Race-specific work comes later.

Event Highlights

Kenya's 'Cycling for Forests' road race at ~2,400m altitude in Kaptagat Forest

80km with 960m of elevation through one of Kenya's most scenic high-altitude forest routes

Four categories: Elite, Para-cycling, Veterans (40+), Juniors (born 2008-2009), and Youth (born 2010 or later)

4th edition held as part of celebrations marking the 10th anniversary of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme

130 cyclists competed in 2026, a 30% rise in participation from previous editions

Total prize purse of KSh 4 million across elite, para-cycling, junior, veteran and team categories

A 12-year-old Grade Six pupil beat older riders to win the Youth category on the 80km course

Officially flagged off by Principal Secretary for Mining Harry Kimutai and patronised by National Treasury PS Dr. Chris Kiptoo

Positions Kaptagat as a high-altitude cycling destination and a national model for community-led forest conservation

Riding For

❤️

Kaptagat Forest Restoration

Proceeds support the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme - a community-led initiative that has restored over 2,737 hectares of degraded forest, distributed 300,000 fruit tree seedlings, created 2,000+ green jobs, and improved water and clean energy access for forest-edge communities.

via Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme

Race Distance

80km

Race Fees

Category	Fee	Status
Early Bird Registration by 23rd June 2026	KES 500	Sold Out
Standard Entry Registration by 2nd July 2026	KES 1,000	Sold Out

Race Categories

Elite

Open

Para-cycling

Adaptive

Veterans

Age 40+

Junior

Born 2008-2009 (ages 17-18)

Youth

Born 2010 or later (age 16 and under)

Course Details

The 80km road race starts and finishes at Kaptagat Farm Resort, routing through the high-altitude Kaptagat Forest with 960m of elevation gain. The course rewards climbers and tests endurance at altitude. A road bike is strongly recommended. Categories include Elite, Para-cycling, Veterans (40+), Juniors (born 2008-2009), and Youth (born 2010 or later), all covering the full distance.

Getting There

Kaptagat Farm Resort is in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet County, approximately 25.4km east of Eldoret town via the B54 - around 39 minutes by car. From Eldoret take the B54 east through Plateau toward Kaptagat. From Nairobi, drive north-west via Nakuru and Eldoret - approximately 310km, around 4 to 4.5 hours. Eldoret is also served by scheduled flights from Nairobi's Wilson Airport and affordable flights by Jambojet from JKIA.

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Did You Know?

🌍Kaptagat Forest feeds six surrounding counties and is the source of major rivers including the Nzoia, Turkwel, and Kerio - making it one of Kenya's most critical highland water catchment areas.

🌍The forest supports over 200 bird species and rare wildlife including Sykes' monkeys, blue monkeys, and bushbucks, within native cedar and podocarpus woodlands.

🌍Sitting at around 2,400m above sea level, Kaptagat is one of East Africa's premier high-altitude training bases - home to the INEOS Eliud Kipchoge Cycling Academy and a proven launchpad for world-class endurance athletes.

🌍The 2025 edition was won by Monica Jelimo - whose very first race was the inaugural Kaptagat Cycling Challenge - and Ndung'u wa Kieya of Team Amani, ahead of Ugandan Olympian Charles Kagimu.

🌍Since the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme began, over 2,737 hectares of degraded forest have been restored and more than 2,000 green jobs created for forest-edge communities.

Results

4th Edition - 2026

Lawrence Lorot (Team Amani) won the Elite Men's category in 1:53:45, while Kendra Masika (Kenyan Riders) took the Elite Women's title in 2:20:42. Frankline Kibet led the Junior Men (ages 17-18) in 1:59:39, while 12-year-old Meshack Kiptoo Koech was the standout winner in the Youth Men category (16 and under). Mercy Eragae topped the Junior Women in 2:38:05. Martin Kariuki Mbogo and pilot Samson Njenga won the Para Men's category riding tandem in 2:16:18, and Ann Nekesa led the Para Women's field. Black Mamba Development and Kenyan Riders were the standout teams, placing multiple riders across the elite podiums.

Elite Results	Winner	Time
Elite Men	Lawrence Lorot (Team Amani)	1:53:45
Elite Men 2nd	Charles Kagimu (Kenyan Riders)	1:54:15
Elite Men 3rd	Billy Mangwana (Black Mamba Development)	1:55:52
Elite Men 4th	Stanley Ngugi (Black Mamba Development)	1:56:20
Elite Men 5th	Shafik Mugalu (Black Mamba Development)	1:56:40
Elite Men 6th	Joseph Kamau (Sossi Safari Simbaz)	1:56:40
Elite Men 7th	Ivan Kipruto (Black Mamba Development)	1:56:46
Elite Men 8th	Cornelius Kemboi (Urban Cycling Club)	1:56:47
Elite Men 9th	Evan Wangai (Kenyan Riders)	1:56:48
Elite Men 10th	Bernard Njoroge (Kenyan Riders)	1:56:49
Elite Women	Kendra Masika (Kenyan Riders)	2:20:42
Elite Women 2nd	Mary Aleper (Black Mamba Development)	2:20:43
Elite Women 3rd	Martinie Munu (Black Mamba Development)	2:20:44
Elite Women 4th	Monica Jelimo (Sossi Safari Simbaz)	2:20:45
Elite Women 5th	Grace Kaviro (Black Mamba Development)	2:20:57
Elite Women 6th	Dinnah Safari (AirPocket)	2:21:17
Elite Women 7th	Nancy Akinyi (Sossi Safari Simbaz)	2:33:53
Elite Women 8th	Sherry Chepkemboi (Kenyan Riders)	2:34:11
Elite Women 9th	Jamillah Abdullah (Bicycle Garage Nairobi)	2:34:15

Veteran Results	Winner	Time
Veteran Women	Berber Kramer (ZUZU Bikeshop)	2:21:05

Junior Results	Winner	Time
Junior Men	Frankline Kibet	1:59:39
Junior Men 2nd	Dancan Rutto	2:01:14
Junior Men 3rd	Wasswa Hassan (Masaka Cycling Club)	2:03:23
Junior Women	Mercy Eragae (Kenyan Riders)	2:38:05
Junior Women 2nd	Sharon Cheruiyot (Kenyan Riders)	2:48:21

Youth Results	Winner	Time
Youth Men	Meshack Kiptoo Koech	—

Para Results	Winner	Time
Para Men	Martin Kariuki Mbogo & Samson Njenga (pilot, Abayomi Velonos)	2:16:18
Para Men 2nd	Gabriel Ambuko (Abayomi Velonos)	2:23:03
Para Men 3rd	Brian Obare	2:39:59
Para Women	Ann Nekesa	—
Para Women 2nd	Irene Ndila	—
Para Women 3rd	Felistus Kaveva	—