WHO'S WORLD OF FANTASY WILL YOU DIVE INTO NEXT?

1. Tell us about your childhood growing up? What type of life did you have before cycling?

My name is Geoffrey Langat, I was born in Kipchegego-Bomet, a small village in Southern part of rift Valley, Kenya. I grew up in my grandparents’ home where I went to Sonoiya primary school, I remember vividly how I use to run to and from school 3km away bare feet, it was all childhood where I could be either climbing a hill to get to school and down then back up to get home. I later moved to Bomet-town after my primary school where my mum lived. I joined Itembe Secondary School as a day schooler for the first two years. Due to school fees problems which is more common with a single parent families in Kenya I had to stop on the mid 3rd term of 2nd year, went back home and to take a hustle to find school fees this made me started working in a near by bakery for cakes locally known as (kangumu) I later at the beginning of the following term moved to a different secondary school-Tarakwa high school, to continue with my studies, with some money i had made from a hustle and I had to back it up by applying government bursaries for the rest of the remaining 2yrs in my high school.

2. How did you get into cycling? Why did you choose cycling over other sports?

Cycling wasn’t my initial sport, I use to do roller skating as a means of transport to high school and sometimes I used a single speed bike locally known as black mamba. After high school, I went for trials competition that happen in our local town and qualified for roller skating championships in south Africa in the year 2010, I managed with my team Kenya in the race to get 3rd in relay race. Despite the success and enthusiasm in roller skating I never thought of cycling as a big sport my mind was changed when I moved to Eldoret a town about 250km away from home. One morning I was putting on my roller skates at the side of the road to begin my training session quite often I saw cyclists on training as well and I was truly impressed and had to find a way to join the team. Kenyan riders is the name of cycling team. Patrick Mwaora is one of the official working in Kenyan riders and I got a chance to talk to him and he explained to me how they organized monthly races to recruit new cyclists to the team, I did consecutive 5months black mamba cycling races and finally qualified to join the team since then my cycling life kicked off.

3. Where did you grow up? What has changed since you started cycling?

My early life began in Bomet , a town in South rift Valley, Kenya. Cycling has made my life a great exploration, I’ve travelled to lots of destinations and so far with cycling I’ve managed to help my mum pay school fees for my two younger sisters and managing my cycling with every financial along the way to get me to the best i can be in my cycling career.

4. What is the best tactic you have seen in a bike race?

In 2018 Tour de France stage 8 Chris Froome attacked his opponents where they never expected, it’s an impressive tactic he used, to attack on a descend and made it to the finish and won the stage and gained some seconds from his opponents, it was Really incredible.

5. What are the differences between racing in Kenya and overseas?

Racing in Kenya has nothing compared to racing in France, Australia or other overseas countries with great cycling, my first time to race overseas was in Australia where in every criterium I raced I got lapped and I did finish only 2 races in 3 months block of racing. However with all experience since then, winning Kenyan races has made it easier for to read the race and make right decision unless mechanical problem or crash happens. level of racing raced overseas is truly higher one is more than confident to dominate Kenyan races for most Kenya cyclist have less knowledge and experience about cycling in outside Kenya.

6. What are you doing to be the best you can be living in Kenya to be able to compete with the best in the world?

cycling is truly competitive now, it takes all determination and commitment to be that really ready to compete and have a result a good result in the field of my fellow professionals, despite having less racing experience while in Kenya compared to many overseas countries of which they race at least every weekend, I do research more about cycling, watching cycling movies and talking to professional cyclists who are better in this sport. Taking training programs from coaches and trying all means to interpret in the right manner to make sure everything is aligned before the race day.

7. What does your family think about you cycling? What do you friends think about cycling?

Cycling is not so popular compared to running in Kenya but somehow with time its growing rapidly country wide, my family are not in any opposition to me doing cycling despite the dangers and all setbacks they give supportive hands and motivate me on this Tough road to reach to my cycling destiny. However not everyone is positive to this sport but most of my friends are have positive attitude towards cycling.

8. Who is the best cyclist in the world and why?

When trying to decide who belongs on a list of the greatest road cyclists of all time, the first thing to consider is criteria. With cycling full of GC contenders, sprinters, climbers, domestique’s and those who concentrate on the classics, it’s impossible to compare these cyclists when their skill sets are so blatantly different for me Chris Froome is truly the best cyclist for my point of view, having won the grand “Tour de France” 4 times up to now, i think his background played bigger role in his career, having been brought up African way where life seem hard compared to most white countries and he later got good channel to get himself to be great in cycling to the top. His determination, discipline and humility makes him more great.

9. What does Kenya need to improve in cycling to be as successful as running in Kenya?

Running is most successful in Kenya and with cycling there is a lot that needs to be done to close the massive gap and beat the world, with Kenya economy i think if the government intervene and give support to this expensive sport then eventually it will happen in years to come, in addition clubs needs to be formed in various parts in the country as this will grow its popularity as a sport.

10. Would you recommend cycling to others and why? What are the benefits to cycling?

Cycling is really enjoyed and most painful, but when you’re doing it from the heart its the great happiness of contention ever , cycling can make you a hero a champion when u give your life into it. I truly advise one and all to join and feel the joy on two wheels to all terrain and above it all, it’s a well paid sport and more at top of the game