Dear Cyclist,

With 7 days to go until the Jubilee Live Free! Race 2026 (powered by the Grand Nairobi Bike Race), the countdown is officially on! On behalf of Jubilee Insurance and the GNBR Race Committee, thank you for joining us for this landmark 6th Edition.

This is Email 1 of our 3-part essential pre-race guidance series. Please review the route specifications, category details, and cycling safety recommendation below carefully.

  1. Closed Road & Route Overview The race runs on a fully closed section of the Nairobi Southern Bypass between the Ngong Road Interchange and the Inland Container Depot (ICD). Strict road closures will be enforced from 6:00 AM to 1:00 PM.
  • Start & Finish Line: Uhuru Gardens, off Langata Road.
  • Course Design: Out-and-back loop from Uhuru Gardens toward Ole Sereni (ICD U-turn), back toward Langata until Ngong Road Interchange, and returning to Uhuru Gardens. One full circuit is approximately 39 km.

Distance Breakdown by Category:

  • Main Race (Individual & Teams): 2 Laps (Approx. 77.8 km | Approx. 480 m elevation gain)
  • Black Mamba Category: 1 Lap (Approx. 39 km)
  • Para-Cycling Category: 1 Lap (Approx. 39 km)
  • Junior / Under-14: 1 Lap (Approx. 39 km)
  • Family Fun Ride: Shortened loop (Approx. 20 km)
  • Kiddies Race: Dedicated 2 km circuit outside Uhuru Gardens
  1. Key Regulations & Equipment Rules
  • Permitted Bikes (Main Race): Road bikes, cross bikes, and MTBs fitted with high-pressure tires. Time-Trial (TT) bikes and aero-bars are permitted only in the Main Race (Individual & Teams).
  • Black Mamba Category: Restricted strictly to single-speed / heavy-frame utility bicycles.
  • Prohibited Equipment: NO E-bikes are permitted on the course for any category.
  • U-Turn Protocol: Slow to a safe pace and follow marshal instructions at turnarounds. Each U-turn is manned by Kenya Police, marshals, paramedics, and mechanical support.
  • Drafting & External Assistance: Outside vehicular pacing leads to immediate disqualification. Tow-ins or pushing fellow riders uphill is strictly prohibited.
  • Course Cut-Off Time (1:00 PM): Riders on course at 1:00 PM will be swept by official support vehicles and marked as DNF to allow safe road reopening. Main Race riders must reach the first-lap ICD U-turn before the designated cut-off time.

Main Race Seeding Order To ensure rider safety and competitive integrity, start waves will be released in 5-minute intervals:

  • Wave 1 (Men): Professional / Elite Men, followed by Men’s Age-Group categories.
  • Wave 2 (Women): Professional / Elite Women, followed by Women’s Age-Group categories.
  1. Cycling & Safety Guidelines
  • Course Familiarity & GPX: Practice on the Southern Bypass loop where possible. Download the official GPX file to study elevation profiles and turns – Download GPX
  • Keep It Simple: Stick strictly to tested equipment, saddles, apparel, and nutrition. Do not experiment with new gear on race morning.
  • Hydration Strategy: Water stations are located at Uhuru Gardens, both U-turns, and mid-course points. Drink early and regularly before you feel thirsty.
  • Listen to Your Body: Do not start the race if you feel unwell. If you experience chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, or numbness, STOP IMMEDIATELY and signal a marshal, police officer, or fellow rider. Emergency medical numbers are printed directly on your race bib.

If you made it this far, Thank you and look out for our second communication covering kit collection, race schedule with wave timings.

Warm regards,

Desmond Momanyi

Director, Grand Nairobi Bike Race

Jubilee Live Free! Race 2026