By Guy Page
Kenya’s leading bicycle racer died this weekend following a crash in Saturday’s Vermont Overland gravel race in West Windsor.
“On Sunday, August 28, Suleiman “Sule” Kangangi died as a result of injuries from a bike crash during the Vermont Overland gravel race. The professional cyclist from Eldoret, Kenya was 33 years old,” Velonews.com reported.
Details of the crash are unknown. According to one media report, he was “traveling at high speed” when he crashed.
With a starting line at the Asctuney Outdoors Ski Tow Road, the Overland is a 59-mile dirt road bicycle race featuring close to 7,000 feet of climbing, eight sectors of Class4 Roads (unmaintained ancient public through-ways)…..”an epic course unlike any you’ve ever ridden before, all within a beautiful Vermont pastoral setting,” the event website states.
The purpose of this race is to promote overland adventure riding and to benefit the Reading/West Windsor Food Shelf and Ascutney Outdoors, both integral organizations in the event’s host town of Reading/West Windsor, the Overland site says.
Organizer Ansel Dickey confirmed Kangangi’s death on the event website. “Vermont Overland is completely heartbroken by the tragic death of Suleiman “Sule” Kangangi during The Overland yesterday. He was a kind friend and an inspiring and heroic athlete to his teammates and the gravel cycling community at large. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, his friends, Team Amani, and the people of Kenya who are mourning his loss today,” Dickey said.
“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,” Rachel Ruto, wife of Kenya’s president-elect said on Twitter.