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| Thursday, 18 November 2004 |
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Big boost for Tour de Lanka by Chris Dhambarage This year's Tour de Lanka cycling classic received a tremendous boost when the Union Cyclists Association (UCI) of Switzerland recommended this race as a national cycling event. Sanjeewa Muttiah of the Interim Committee for Cycling in Sri Lanka said that this is a significant achievement where the authorities have approved the participation of three international teams for the race. He said that they could now include a maximum of 18 foreign competitors in this race depending on their performances. The Tour de Lanka is organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited (ANCL) and conducted by the Interim Committee for Cycling in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police. Muttiah also said that the Cycling Federation is hoping to register the Tour de Lanka race as a classified 2.6 class event at least from next year. As the preparations for this year's race commenced very recently they were unable to get the approval from the UCI as a major international event. Incidentally there has been a good response from the foreign competitors for this race especially from Europe and Australia. Muttiah said that several individuals and teams have shown their interest in this race and they will be in close contacts during the next few days. The race will be conducted in five different stages with the first stage to start opposite the Lake House on December 7 to Anuradhapura. The competitors will proceed along Dankotuwa, Kurunegala, Wariyapola and Eppawela covering a distance of 199 kilometres. The second stage will be on December 8 from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee. The competitors will proceed along Habarana, Maradankadawela, Kantale covering a distance of 184 kilometres. The third stage will be on December 9 from Trincomalee to Kandy via Dambulla and Matale. The competitors will proceed along Dambulla, Naula, Matale and reach Kandy covering a distance of 128 kilometres. The fourth stage will be on December 11 from Kandy to Ratnapura via Kegalle and Avissawella and the fifth stage will be on December 12 from Ratnapura to Matara to finish at Nupe via Horana, Kalutara and Galle covering a distance of 200 kilometres. There will also be a circuit race round the Kandy Lake on December 10. There will also be a standard race for men on December 12 from Ratnapura to Matara, while a standard race for women too is to be worked off also on December 12 from Galle to Matara. Details and entry coupons will appear in the ANCL publications soon. |
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