This past February, a recce trip was organized to scout route changes in preparation for year two. Along for the ride were MGR Women’s winner, Nancy Akinyi Debe, Kenyan Pro rider Geoffrey Langat, both members of Team AMANI, as well as race partner and local guide, James Savage, and director/photographer Lian van Leeuwen.
“The Maasai Mara is the only place you can find the big five animals of the wild,” explains Langat. “As a cyclist, I was fortunate enough to be part of this reconnaissance trip to the exact place where the Migration Gravel Race happens, and it was a successful trip indeed.”
“The Ride around Mara was super cool and chilled, with mixed weather conditions,” remembers Debe. “We got properly rained on during day three, and riding was a bit tricky, but we also had some fair weather conditions, which was nice.”
For local riders and organizers, the Migration Gravel Race means both an opportunity to compete against top talent from around the cycling world as well as the chance to welcome international visitors to the beauty of the wild Kenya landscapes.
“The Mara is a very special place,” James Savage explains. “It is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. The Greater Maasai Mara ecosystem amounts to almost 1,510 km2 (580 sq mi). The fauna and Flora are out of this world. There is no place better to see African wildlife. And the Maasai are an iconic people still living traditionally.”
