Sports

A new chapter in Sri Lanka’s cycling history

A new chapter will begin in Sri Lanka’s cycling history when the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race gets underway in three stages on January 16 opposite Lake House in Colombo.

The three-day event is conducted by the Sports development Department of the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports with Lake House Group joining hands as the official media sponsor.

The first stage of the event will commence on January 16 opposite Lake House at 9.00 a.m. and will conclude near the Kandy Agriculture Office covering 105.9km.

On January 17, the competitors will cycle from Kandy to Anuradhapura via Dambulla covering 136km and the final stage on January 18 will commence at 11.00 a.m. from Anuradhapura to Colombo through Puttalam covering 208km.

Prize money worth Rs. 5m will be on offer for the winners and the runners-up of the Lanka Ride Cycle Race with over 150 cyclists comprising six teams competing in this historic race.

The winner will receive a cash award of Rs. 600,000 while the Under-23 winner will be presented Rs. 200,000.

There will be special awards for the best mountain rider at Nelumdeniya, Uthuwankanda, Kadugannawa and Ambanpola.

Over 25 teams comprising of some elite and the cream of the Sri Lankan cyclists will be vying for honours with Police, Army, Navy and Air Force as the leading contenders for the team championship along with Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council Team, Sri Lanka Ports Authority Team, Kadirana Speed Cycling Club and Stefanelli Cycling Club.

Avishka Medonza (Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council), Chamod de Silva (Air Force), Saranga Perera (Army), Chamod de Silva (Police), Pathum Sampath (Army), Suranga Ranaweera (Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia Municipal Council), Nadeesha Heshan (Air Force), Abishek Silva (Navy) and Thamuditha Soysa (Ratmalana Golden SC) are the top contenders for the title.

Lanka Ride set to revive cycling in Sri Lanka

Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Sunil Kumara Gamage believes that the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race will reach great heights and create a new sporting dimension in the country.

“We are organising this race simply because of two reasons. One reason is that we need to create a sporting culture in this country and we have to promote and develop all sporting events in the country,” the Sports Minister said.

“The second reason is because the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka is currently suspended and it is under the supervision of the sports ministry. It was under the authority of the sports ministry even when I took office due to various allegations.”

“We have the responsibility of reviving this sport in the country as an association which is under our authority and considering these reasons we decided to organise the Lanka Ride Cycle Race.”

The Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs believed that the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race will match the standards of the famous Tour de Lanka and produce talented riders for the future.

“We have heard of several cycling events in the past and one leading event that comes to my mind is the Tour de Lanka, organised by the Lake House Group and it was very popular in Sri Lanka.”

“The Tour de Lanka cycle race produced a number of top riders and was so popular that we used to get to know about the riders through this event.”

“But we haven’t had a cycle race for 21 years now and under these circumstances we cannot expect the sport to flourish and improve anymore.”

“We know some of the developed countries conduct a number of top class international cycle events annually and we have the responsibility of organising a competitive cycle race to keep the sport alive.”

“And so, the Lanka Ride Cycle Race has a great significance for us because this is the first cycling event, which is conducted under the direct supervision of the sports ministry,” the Sports Minister added. (C.D)

Source: Sunday Observer