|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Thursday, 9 December 2004 |
 |
|
 |
Sports | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Lankan cyclists out ride foreigners on day two Chris Dhambarage reporting from Trincomalee Twenty three year old Maddumage Kapila of Sri Lanka Army SC won the second stage of the Tour de Lanka cycling classic worked off from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee yesterday. Kapila competing for the first time in the race rode with skill and courage to cross the finishing line clocking four hours 12 minutes and 05 seconds covering a distance of 161.2 kilometres. A former student of Homagama MMV Kapila started his career in the year 2000 and came into recognition last year being placed third at the Tour de Sri Lanka. He said that it is a great achievement to win at least one stage of the prestigious Tour de Lanka race. He said the route from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee was a tough one with several areas of road being damaged. But the Sri Lankan riders made good use of this as they were well aware of the route more than the foreign competitors. In fact four other local riders were placed second, third, fourth and fifth respectively in contrast to the opening day which was dominated by the overseas riders. Kapila will be the tour leader for the third stage starting today at 10.00 a.m from Kantale to Kandy and will wear the yellow jersey. C. P. Meemanage Perera of Sri Lanka Army SC who was placed second in the race was adjudged as the best sprinter and will wear the green jersey for the third stage. The third place went to H. L. Krishantha of the Sri Lanka German Friendship Cycling Club, fourth place was won by Gamini Ambakotuwa of Sri Lanka Army SC and the fifth place went to Samantha Lakmal of Sri Lanka Air Force SC. All five riders clocked the identical time of four hours 12 minutes and 05 seconds. A total of 97 competitors were flagged off by the Chief Minister of North Central Province Berty Premalal Dissanayake at 9.00 a.m from opposite the Anuradhapura public playgrounds. The competitors broke into three groups at Mihintale with Gamini Ambakotuwa, M. Kapila, C. P. Meemanage, Samantha Lakmal, H. L. Krishantha, Prasanna Madensa (Paragon) and Pradeep Kumara taking the lead. Meanwhile a foreign competitor Steven Richards from England said that the first 40 kilometres of the route was excellent but it turned out to be bumpy and rough during the latter stages which was a disadvantage for the riders. 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 Commitee for Cycling in Sri Lanka in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Police. The race is co-sponsored by the National Savings Bank, Holcim, DSI and Sign Tech Advertising Services Limited. The third stage from Kantale to Kandy will start at 10.00 a.m today opposite the Kantale clock tower. The riders will proceed along Habarana, Dambulla, Nalanda, Matale, Alawathugoda, Akurana, Katugastota and to finish opposite Dalada Maligawa covering a distance of 149.5 kilometres. The top five among the local and in the overall contest of the Tour de Lanka second stage from Anuradhapura to Trincomalee: |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
