Today, Tuesday, June 18, one of the "pillar" tests of the Gravel Earth Series has begun: The Migration Gravel Race. After the Traka held last month, it will be the second event with the Global category. For this reason, we also remember that it can greatly affect the general classification, since Global events give extra points.
The event will last four days, four stages (from June 18 to 21) in which the runners will coexist with the wild fauna of the lands of the Maasai Mara National Reserve. During these four days, 200 cyclists from 35 countries around the world will race in this test.
Seeing the quality of the participants, we sense a certain support and support, perhaps with the intention of turning the Migration into a reference, so that you understand us, an embryo of a "Cape" of gravel.
But Migration is not just a race, it is something more, it is a celebration of the human spirit, of nature and of the culture and hospitality of the community of Masaai herders and warriors. All of this has a certain aroma of an advertisement, but ultimately it is a trip to the heart of Africa, to the heart of the Masaai, and few events offer us something so suggestive. It is also an opportunity to support the development of cycling in Kenya.
Another great pillar of the event is the Amani project, a project that offers sporting opportunities to cyclists in East Africa. The Amani team is also in charge of other tests such as the Safari Gravel Race, held this past Saturday, which this year has been a qualifier for the UCI Gravel World Series.
Lachlan Morton, who won UNBOUND a couple of weeks ago, is the coach of Team Amani, but this time he will not participate in this test.
As we have said, we will see big names fighting for the podium. Lukas Baum and Amity Rockwell will return to Kenya to try to take victory for the second year in a row, but we already know that in a race of this nature anything can happen.
In the female category, Maddy Nutt, who came in second place two years ago, the American Sarah Sturm, the Rwandan Xaverine Nirere (who rides with the Amani team), the Ugandan Mary Aleper and the Spanish Anuchi Gago are just some of the cyclists who are going to fight to be first against Amity Rockwell.
In the men's category, apart from the previous winner, Lukas Baum, we will also have other big names. The Italian Mattia de Marchi, who came third in 2022, the Rwandan Seth Hakizimana, who is part of the Amani team, the Australian Freddy Overt, the American and also from “Girund” Chad Haga, who is one of the fashionable names (podiums in Traka and Unbound), the Dutch Hans Becking, the Belgian Lawrance Naesen or the Ugandan Jördan Schleck will compete for first place.
The test will be divided into four stages that will be run in four days. If we add them all, the test covers 615 kilometers and has an elevation of 5950 meters.
The first of them, known as the "Day of Shamba" runs 140 km in length, although it only has 750 meters of elevation gain. It is known by this name because the first rocky section, which may be reminiscent of Paris-Roubaix, crosses several villages or "sambas".
The second day we find the queen stage. This stage, with 170 km and 2700 m of elevation gain, has much more unevenness than the previous one, we could say that it is a more climbing stage. In this area, participants will also be able to have many encounters with wildlife and some brutal views.
The third stage has a similar profile to that of the first day; same distance and gradient (140 km and 1100 m). However, it is expected to be the fastest stage of all, largely given the ideal ground conditions in this area.
Fourth, and last, we have the last stage. This will travel 165 km and will have a gradient of 1,400 m. Also running alongside the wildlife and brutal landscapes will be where the winners will be decided.
During these four days, those who have decided to participate will have an opportunity to learn about a new culture and to connect with the land. From the organization of the Gravel Earth Series, they want to highlight that the Migration gravel race is a reminder of the power that the gravel community has when it comes to inspiring, uniting and preserving the treasures that nature offers us.