First lady-elect Rachel Ruto in mourning
President-Elect William Ruto’s wife Rachel Ruto has led Kenyans in eulogizing the passing on of cyclist Suleiman Kangangi.
Mama Rachel whose enthusiasm for cycling is vivid, with her joining fellow cyclists on rides.
Pained by the demise of her friend, a fellow cyclist, Mama Rachel attached a photo of herself with Kangangi saying, “It is with shock that I have received the sad news that @sulekangangi passed away after a tragic crash in the United States. My heartfelt condolences to his family, and the entire cycling community, that has lost a talented cyclist, a mentor and a friend.”
Kangangi passed away on Saturday while competing in a gravel race in Vermont, United States. Kangangi succumbed to his injuries during the accident in the race.
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Gravel race 2022 focused on raising the racers’ gender ratios encouraging women to come out in a large number to cycle.
The Iten-based 33-year-old athlete captained and represented the Kenyan national cycling team at the Commonwealth Games and All Africa Games multiple times.
Kangangi has been part of Bike Aid, with him, Charles Kagimu and Jeff Kiplagat competing in 17 countries including Gabon, China, Slovakia, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Congo, Eritrea and France, which is the undisputed home of cycling.
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With every international race they take part in, the trio have collected valuable experience about cycle sports and plan to use their exposure and experience to turn around the future of cycle sports in Kenya.
The Vermont Overland is a 59-mile (95-kilometre) dirt road bicycle race that includes nearly 7,000 feet (2,130 meters) of climbing.
About 900 cyclists were competing on Saturday in the race that begins and ends in the community of Brownsville in the town of West Windsor, USA.
“Vermont Overland is heartbroken by the tragic death of Suleiman ‘Sule’ Kangangi during The Overland yesterday,” Ansel Dickey, owner of Vermont Overland, said in a statement on Sunday.
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