Monica Jelimo and Ndung’u wa Kieya Crowned Winners of the 2025 Kaptagat Cycling Challenge
Having spent two years training with the INEOS Eliud Kipchoge team in Kaptagat, Jelimo’s experience and endurance paid off.
Cyclists participating in a race in Kaptagat over the weekend.
By Jessica Nyaboke
The 2025 Kaptagat Cycling Challenge has come to a close, with Monica Jelimo and Ndung’u wa Kieya emerging as the top winners.
Jelimo, a seasoned cyclist from Iten, demonstrated remarkable improvement from her third-place finish last year to claim the top spot. Having spent two years training with the INEOS Eliud Kipchoge team in Kaptagat, Jelimo’s experience and endurance paid off.
This was her fourth consecutive participation in the challenge, having competed in the inaugural event in 2022.
Ndung’u wa Kieya, who trains in Iten with Kenyan Riders and currently rides for Team Amani, finished ahead of his teammate and Ugandan Olympian Charles Kagimu. Kagimu, a former member of Eliud Kipchoge’s academy, delivered an impressive performance, showcasing his skills and determination.
In the para-cycling category, Kenyan Paralympian Kennedy Ogada took home the men’s title, beating Gabriel Ambuko of Team VeloNos. Meanwhile, Felistus Kaveva claimed the women’s title, edging out Irene Ngundo. Kaveva’s victory comes on the back of her recent medal haul at the African Championships.
In a heartwarming gesture, the cyclists participated in a tree-planting exercise at the Eliud Kipchoge site in Kaptagat Forest, planting 300 trees to promote conservation and sustainability. This initiative is part of the Kaptagat Integrated Conservation Programme, which aims to protect the forest that has been instrumental in nurturing the careers of many cyclists.
The event’s organizers expressed gratitude to all participants, highlighting that the proceeds from the challenge will be used to plant more trees and conserve Kenya’s water towers.
The cyclists praised the Kaptagat Forest for its unique environment, which provides a cool and ideal setting for training, unlike the harsh conditions of running in the scorching sunshine.
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