Cyclo Cross 2006 on April 22

Bernard Perera

MOUNTAIN BIKING: The fourth annual Cyclo Cross 2006 organised by the Mountain Biking Association of Sri Lanka which will be conducted by the Association, is to take place in Nuwara Eliya's Mahagastota Circuit. This years event is lavishly sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka Ltd. These details were disclosed by Amal Suriyage at the press briefing held at the Bloomfield Pavilion on Monday.

Suriyage speaking further said Singer Sri Lanka Ltd has come forward to sponsor this event as it is a sport that can be staged in every part of the country, specially from the younger age.

He said "last year the major event for specialist riders the Downhill event could not be held due to bad weather conditions that prevailed during the last stages of the day's proceedings. As such the organisers have decided to have the event as the first event for the day."

Adding further he said that the Nuwara Eliya Municipal Council too is playing a vital role in organising this event as one of its major events for the Festive season to coincide with the Selalihini Wasanthaya where the Nuwara Eliya Motor Racing Club too has joined hands with the organisers.

"This year the track has taken a new look with a shorter distance. Last year's track which covered nearly ten kms was not visible to spectators as the riders had to go through the jingle areas, where the fans could not view riders movements."

This year the new look track gives the spectator a full view of the race as it has been shortened to 3.4 km. But the riders competing in the open race will have to ride for ten laps to cover a distance of nearly 30kms. This he said was to keep in line with the rules laid down by the UCI.

A total of twelve events are scheduled to be conducted for age group U - 10, 13 boys and girls, U - 16 boys, Fun riders. U - 19 boys, ladies open, Men's open, veterans over 50 and the special event for riders from the Nuwara Eliya district.

The U - 10 and 13 event for boys and girls will be run concurrently to shorten the time schedule, said Suriyage.

The winners of all events are to receive Mountain Bikes in addition to gold medals, while the runners up are awarded silver and bronze medals along with certificates said Suriyage. There will also be cash awards to winners and runners up of the ladies, men's open and the Down Hill events ranging from Rs. 2,500 Suriyage concluded thanking the sponsors Singer Sri Lanka for their kind gesture to join hands with the Mountain Biking Association.

Asitha Abeysekera, Director Marketing who represented the sponsors Singer Sri Lanka speaking on the occasion said "his company is one of the companies that has taken a keen interest in promoting sports which can be highly competitive at all levels." Singer Sri Lanka had to give its best for this kind of sport as it could be conducted in any part of the country and in a sport that gives the society its best.

Mountain Biking is a low cost sport which also helps participants to keep fit while it does not harm the environment in any way. Sri Lanka is blessed all ground conditions suitable for this sport."

"This is an Olympic sport and can be competed at international level. So the Lankans talent can be spotted from school level. This sport can be introduced to schools, the young riders can compete under their school banner" said Abeysekera. "If this can be achieved we Lankans can rise up further from this sport" noted Abeysekera and hinted that his company is prepared to extend its fullest cooperation in the future too.

It was also told that already nearly 500 entries have been received by the Association. Entries are accepted on the race day too said the president of the Association Suriyage.

The days events are sure to give all the thrills and spills the spectators expect to witness from riders who are touring Nuwara Eliya specially for the event.