When Chris Froome stood on the podium in Paris wearing the maillot jaune, millions saw the glory of a champion. What few realized is that the foundation of his career was built far from the Champs-Élysées in the red soil and steep hills around Kikuyu, Kenya, riding with David Kinjah and the Safari Simbaz.

What happens when you mix a Kenyan cycling legend, two german riders, and 157 km of Danish tarmac? You get a wild weekend in Aalborg, full of fast wheels, stinky herring, and good vibes all around.

In 2004, David Kinjah and Davidson Kamau were invited to the first-ever Cape Epic in South Africa — one of the toughest mountain bike...