Suleiman ‘Sule’ Kangangi died after a high speed crash at Vermont Overland, a 95-kilometer gravel race, on Saturday. He was 33 years old, and leaves behind a wife and children.
The Kenyan racer had traveled along with two other racers to the U.S. for a short season of gravel racing as team captain of Team AMANI. In the past month, he raced Leadville 100, SBT GRVL, Gravel Worlds, and finally, Vermont Overland—the last race on the team’s gravel calendar. His death is mourned by the cycling community, and he’s remembered as a great competitor, friend and captain.
“We are completely heartbroken by the tragic death of Suleiman ‘Sule’ Kangangi during The Overland yesterday,” Vermont Overland owner Ansel Dickey said in a statement on Instagram on Sunday. “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, @teamamani, and the people of Kenya who are mourning his loss today.”
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“Sule Kangangi tragically lost his life yesterday after crashing at high speed during a race in Vermont. Sule is our captain, friend, brother. He is also a father, husband and son. Gaping holes are left when giant’s fall. Sule was a giant,” wrote Team AMANI on Instagram. “Instead of leading us at the front of the pack, he will now lead us as our guiding pole star as we press forward in the realization of his dream. Pumzika kwa amani Sule, you shall always be with us.”
Team AMANI focuses on improving inclusivity in cycling and creating opportunities for riders based in Africa, and this was the first season that riders from Kenya were able to come to the US to race as part of Team AMANI. In addition to Kangangi, who had been racing professionally and working to develop the sport of cycling in East Africa since 2016, John Kariuki and Jordan Schleck completed the small but incredibly talented squad. In that final race at Vermont Overland, Kariuki won, while Schleck finished third. At a time when the team should have been celebrating, they were mourning.
Kangangi, who finished eighth at Gravel Worlds the weekend prior to Vermont Overland, had been quickly embraced by the gravel scene, and is being remembered not just by his team, but by fellow racers. “Sule, it was an honour to share these past three races with you,” Gravel Worlds winner Adam Roberge wrote on Instagram. “The last time I saw you, you were pushing yourself to the absolute limit to make the front selection on top of the second major climb of @vermontoverland. I'll keep this memory with me and try my best to honour you when I feel the urge to give up.”
Kangangi's death has reverberated around the world, not just within the cycling community. Wife of Kenyan President-Elect William Ruto, Rachel Ruto, tweeted her condolences as well, saying, “We will all miss him as an individual. Kenya has lost a champion.”
Friends have started a GoFundMe to help support Kangangi’s wife and children in this incredibly difficult time. You can find out more and donate here.
