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by Chris Dhambarage reporting from Anuradhapura

The top five riders in the overall contest of the 2004 Tour de Lanka cycle race Franck Terwell (Holland), Ulzi Orshikh Jamaran (Mongolia), Alexander van Bavel (Holland), Chi Yin Leung (Marco Polo) and Sujith Silva (Air Force SC) pose with their awards with ANCL director (editorial) Karunaratne Paranawithana and ANCL circulation manager Sujeewa Jayatillake at the end of the first leg at Anuradhapura yesterday. (Pic by Indrajith Perera)

Twenty seven year old Franck Tervel of Holland representing the Global Wheelers Sports Club proved his racing skills to become the best sprinter of the day and also to win the first stage of the Tour de Lanka cycling classic worked off from Colombo to Anuradhapura yesterday.

Franck who earlier took the half stage from Colombo to Dambulla, maintained his consistency and finished the race from Dambulla to Anuradhapura with a timing of one hour forty minutes and 49 seconds covering a distance of 68 kilo metres. Franck was placed third at Anuradhapura but on the overall timing he took the tour leaders place and the yellow jersey.

The Tour de Lanka which has been revived after a lapse of eight years is organised by the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited and conducted by the Interim Committee of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka and in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police.

The Tour de Lanka is organised to coincide with President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge's tenth anniversary in office as President and also to coincide with the 'Nilwala Harasara' a concept initiated by the Minister of Media and Information Mangala Samaraweera.

Chin Yin Leung of the Marco Polo combined European team who took the fourth place in the overall timing came first in the second stage from Dambulla to Anuradhapura with a timing of one hour 40 minutes and 49 seconds.

Neequaye Dsane also from the Marco Polo team was placed second in the race from Dambulla to Anuradhapura.

Airman Sujith Silva had the honour of been placed fifth in the overall competiton. However among the local riders Sujith Silva clinched the first place. Three soldiers M. Kapila (2) yasaratne Perera (3) M. Kelum (4) and Anil Silva from Air Force was placed fifth.

A total of 97 riders were flagged off at 3.00 p.m from opposite the Gamudawa playgrounds and the competitors proceeded along Kekirawa, Maradankadawela, Thirappane, Galkuluma, Kekirawa before finishing near the Anuradhapura public grounds. Dinesh Shanthilal of Battaramulla Sama Cycling Club, Sanath Jayasinghe of Sri Lanka Army and Hemajith Prasanna of Sri Lanka Ports Authority rode together before they were overtaken by the the foreign riders near Thirappane.

Meanwhile N. Karunaratne Chief Commissare of the Tour de Lanka said that this was one of the most exciting and best ever finishes seen at Anuradhapura.

The awards ceremony was held immediately after the race under the patronage of Karunarathna Paranavithana Director Editorial ANCL.

The second stage of the Tour de Lanka will resume at 9.00 a.m today from opposite the public grounds in Anuradhapur and will finish opposite Mc Hezyer Stadium in Trincomalee covering a distance of 161.2 kilo metres.

The top five among the local competitors:

(1) Sujith Silva (Air Force SC)
(2) M. Kapila (Army SC)
(3) Yasaratne Perera (Army SC)
(4) M. Kelum (Army SC)
(5) Anil Silva (Air Force SC)

The top five in the overall contest

(1) Franck Terwel (Holland)
(2) Ulzii Orshikh Jamsran (Mongolia)
(3) Alexander van Bavel (Holland)
(4) Chi Yin Leung (Marco Polo)
(5) Sujith Silva (Air Force SC)

The top three riders from Dambulla to Anuradhapura

(1) Chi Yin Leung (Marco Polo)
(2) Neequaye Dsane (Marco Polo)
(3) Franck Tervel (Holland)

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