Cycling challenge beckons, but for Kinja, its just an expedition

Ten-time Kenya cyclist champion David Kinja will this weekend aim to defend his title in the 10-4 Mountain Bike Race on in the slopes of Mt Kenya. The race is Kenya’s ultimate Mountain Bike Safari, held annually since 2002 when a small group of enthusiastic mountain bikers cycled from 10,000ft above sea level down to 4,000ft.

The event that will take three consecutive days, February 9-11, have routes designed to challenge the most enthusiastic mountain bike riders along with those wanting a fun day out.

For Kinja, this is an ideal challenge. He said: “Cycling is not hard, one needs a lot of training and hard work and experience,” he said, appealing to the federation to cease its high octane politics and instead focus on developing talent and raising standards of the sport in the country.

Speaking with Citizen Digital in a separate interview, event organizer, Susie Weeks, the executive director of Mount Kenya Trust said: “More  than 400 competitors have confirmed participation and winners will be awarded cash prizes along with bike merchandise .”

The competition has attracted participants from the USA, Kenya, SA, Mauritius, Spain, Netherlands, Canada, Norway, Tanzania, Ireland, Belgium, Japan, NZ, Switzerland, France, Australia and Germany.

“The routes for all the races meander through local farms and conversancy areas so the main challenges we face are wild animals crossing paths with those taking part,” Weeks said, adding that: ” However, we have a very experienced teams that work on the security of all those taking part in the event to reduce the risk of this happening .”

Report by Aaron Muthomi