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| Tuesday, 6 July 2004 |
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Biggest prize money for BoC Cycle tour by Bernard Perera The second annual Bank of Ceylon cycle tour is scheduled for July 31 and August 1, with the biggest prize money on offer for the winners, said Nimal Pieris, Additional General Manager Marketing and Business Development, Bank of Ceylon at a press briefing held at Athletic Association Auditorium, last Monday. Pieris speaking further said this year's event was scheduled for these two days as the Bank celebrates its 65th anniversary. The Bank of Ceylon was involved with sports specially with swimming in the past, but with Bank's involvement with cycling last year which proved highly successful made us join hands with cycling for the future. He also said that cycling was a sport that lacked sponsors, as such the Bank of Ceylon decided to come forward to help cycling on a long- term basis by way of sponsoring events of this nature which also adds value to Bank's name. The event will be conducted by the interim committee for cycling in Sri Lanka under internal rules stipulated by the governing body he said. Pieris said that all other arrangements will be handled by a committee headed by him. The event is to be conducted as a team event for racing cyclists who are registered with the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. Participants interested can forward their entries as a team consisting minimum of four members and should not exceed six members, Pieris said. The race is to commence at 7.0 a.m. on July 31 opposite Bank of Ceylon headquarters. The riders will proceed through Galle Face to Bambalapitiya and pass through Bauddhaloka Mawatha and reach Borella, Baseline Road, New Kelaniya Bridge and move to Peliyagoda on the Negombo Road. This section of the event is to be considered as cycle parade by the riders to attract the spectators and to avoid the traffic congested area for racers. The race proper will begin at Peliyagoda and the riders are pass through Wattala, Ja-Ela, Negombo, Kochchikade and reach Chilaw, the riders will then turn to right and pass through Hettipola and Wariyapola before reaching the finishing point at Kurunegala on the first leg of the tour. The cyclists will cover a distance of 163.7 kilometres. The second stage of the tour begins on August 1 at 1.00 p.m. from Kurunegala. On this stage the cyclists are expected to pass through Pothuhera, Polgahawela, and Ambepussa then they will proceed towards Kandy via Nelundeniya. On reaching Galigomuwa the riders will turn to right and go through the town of Ruwanwella before entering Awissawella. At Nelundeniya the riders will have to show their prowess on their hill climb abilities, for which special cash awards are on offer. From Awissawella the riders will ride through Kaluaggala, Pahathgama, Homagama, Maharagama, Nugegoda, Havelock Town, and turn left to Dickman's Road, Galle Road, Bambalapitiya, Kolluptiya and finish at Galle Face. In the second leg riders will cover a distance of 153 kilometres. Pieris said a total of over Rs. 250,000 are on offer as award for winners. He requested the Interim Committee to carry on with the good work what they displayed last year for the same event. He also said that entries could be sent on self-made coupons, which should indicate the riders registration numbers. These entries should be marked as 'Bank of Ceylon Cycle Tour," sent to Additional General Manager, Marketing and Business Development, 27th Floor Bank of Ceylon Towers, Colombo on or before July 23. Inspector of police Sisira Kumara who represented the Interim Committee for cycling explaining about the conduct of the race said that the committee will follow the rules of the world governing body for the event. According to international rules the riders are allowed to be fed after completing 50 kilometres. But this was not practised in Sri Lanka earlier, our practice was to demarcate certain areas as feeding areas, now we have to do away with this system he said. Kumara said this system will help sort out many problems faced by riders as officials. This also cuts off traffic problem that arise due to demarcated feeding areas, where all riders look for feeding at the same time period. Kumara also said that Bank of Ceylon has come forward to look after the welfare of the riders and supporters on day one at Kurunegala. |
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