Nancie Akinyi of Kenya has won her third straight stage at the Migration Grave Race after taking the fourth and final stage in 6:57:54 ahead of Dorien Geertsema in 7:22:15 and Betsy Welch in 7:26:15.
Akinyi raced with pure determination on the final stage. She trailed Welch by 20 minutes overall leading into the final day despite winning the Queen’s stage and the third stage, and left everything on the dusty gravel roads in the search for victory. She powered through the first feed station at 60km without stopping, knowing she had to make up a considerable deficit.
Welch arrived some time after Akinyi, and was forced to stop for mechanical advice.
“My chain fell off 8 times already,” she explained.
“I’m feeling ok but the clutch fell off when it’s on the low gear.”
After a snack, a drink and a chat with the mechanics, she set off after Akinyi with Spanish rider Marc Roig.
Geertsema and compatriot Mieke Luten arrived at the first checkpoint in high spirits.
“We saw a cheetah,” they beamed, “and an elephant.”
The Dutch pair have ridden together throughout the race but Geertsema had stronger legs at the end of the final stage and followed Akinyi across the line.
kieranblakewriter 