Start time for Eliud Kipchoge’s INEOS 1:59 challenge announced

The start time for the INEOS 1:59 challenge featuring Eliud Kipchoge has been announced as 9:15am Kenyan time.

Also Read: Citizen TV to air INEOS 1:59 as Kenyans root for Eliud Kipchoge

The organizers made the announcement on Friday saying Kipchoge and his team are keen that a significant crowd will attend to cheer him on and help him make history.

“The Challenge will start at 08:15 (09:15 Kenyan time) CEST tomorrow, Saturday 12 October,” the statement reads.

Deputy President William Ruto and his wife Rachel left the country on Thursday evening for Vienna, Austria.

They are expected to be part of the team that will be cheering on the global champion.

The historic run will be aired live on Citizen TV.

Kipchoge will be attempting to become the first ever athlete to run a full marathon in under 2 hours.

“We took into account all the different parameters and the decision has been made that the INEOS 1:59 Challenge will start at 8:15AM CEST on Saturday 12th October,” Fran Millar, CEO of TEAM INEOS said.

Kipchoge arrived in Vienna on 8th October, having flown from his training camp in Kaptagat in Kenya and has been acclimatising to Vienna and training on the course as part of his race-week preparations.

In a pre-event press conference held on Friday, Kipchoge said: “I’m feeling well, I’m happy with the course and I am waiting for Saturday.”

Safaricom announced a free YouTube bundle for the INEOS challenge on Saturday.

From 8am to 4pm, all Safaricom subscribers will be able to stream the Vienna race live on their phones at no cost.

“The bundle will be accessed by dialling *159# upon which a customer will receive a free YouTube bundle,” a statement from Safaricom reads.