RoadAnnual Event

Kaptagat Cycling Challenge 2026

Saturday, 4 July 2026 · 9:00 AM

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

Contact Kaptagat ICP before payment. Paybill: 745611, Account: Date of Birth.

No online form - contact KICP on Facebook or Instagram (@kaptagaticp) before making payment via Paybill 745611, Account: Date of Birth.

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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+), and Juniors (born 2008 or later)

Historically attracts elite national and international riders including Ugandan Olympians

Early bird entry at KES 500 - among the most accessible elite-level road races in Kenya

Post-race tree planting at Eliud Kipchoge's adopted site in Kaptagat Forest Block

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	Available
Standard Entry Registration by 2nd July 2026	KES 1,000	Available

Race Categories

Elite

Open

Para-cycling

Adaptive

Veterans

Age 40+

Junior

Born 2008 or later

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. All four categories - Elite, Para-cycling, Veterans (40+), and Juniors (born 2008 or later) - cover 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.