Kenya’s Brian Karoney Turns Grief into Cycling Inspiration at UCI Kigali

Kigali, Rwanda At the UCI Road World Championships 2025 in Kigali, one of the most inspiring faces in the crowd was not a medal winner but a young Kenyan entrepreneur, Mr. Brian Karoney, in his early 30s. He came to Rwanda not just as a fan, but as the founder of a new cycling team called Airpocket, backed by Enovepay, his Nairobi-based payment company.

For Brian, cycling is more than sport. It is deeply personal. A few years ago, his wife fell seriously ill and needed regular blood donations. The people who donated were mostly cyclists athletes with strong health and open hearts. Their kindness gave Brian more time with his wife before she passed away.

“That moment changed me I felt I owed something back to the cycling community. They gave me time with the person I loved. So I decided to give back through cycling.” Brian said.

[caption id=“attachment_41713” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] Mr. Brian Karoney, founder of Airpocket Cycling Team, at Kimironko Fan Zone during the UCI Road World Championships 2025 in Kigali.[/caption]

Today, Airpocket Cycling Team has five riders and one coach, with ages ranging between 16 and 32. Brian wants to nurture young talent and give them a chance to compete at the UCI level, not just ride as a hobby. His goal is clear, in one year, he wants the team to become professional and able to earn a living from cycling.

But the journey is not easy. Lack of sponsorship has left many African cyclists struggling. Without proper support, many talented riders stop at the amateur stage. “We have the talent, but no tools, Cyclists in Africa need structure, funding, and exposure to international events.” Brian explained.

The Kigali championships gave his team exactly that exposure. Watching world stars like Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar race live inspired the riders. “Seeing the heroes close, not on TV, changes everything,” Brian said with a smile.

And there is good news. At the UCI in Kigali, Brian secured a deal with an international sponsor. This partnership will help Airpocket grow stronger, add new riders, and even expand to include women. Already, three female cyclists are set to join ahead of the Grand Nairobi Race later this year.

But Brian’s dream goes beyond his team. He believes Africa needs to build a cycling culture. In Rwanda, he saw thousands of fans lining the roads, cheering riders. For him, this is proof that cycling can attract people if promoted well. “Once fans grow, corporates and governments will follow. That is how Africa will rise in cycling,” he said.

Brian’s story is one of pain turned into purpose, and vision turned into action. In his 30s, he is showing young Africans that passion, business, and sport can go together. If his dream continues, Airpocket may soon become one of the first professional cycling teams from East Africa to compete at the world stage.

[caption id=“attachment_41714” align=“alignnone” width=“1024”] Airpocket Cycling Team in Kigali Rwanda ahead of the UCI 2025[/caption]

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