National Standard Cycling C'ships to commence next month

BERNARD PERERA

The Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka has organised a Standard Cycle Championship for men and women to be conducted in eight stages with the healthy sponsorship of Neth FM, Associated Motorways Limited and Hutch was made known to the media by Nishantha Piyasena the Secretary of the CFSL at a press briefing held at the Greatwall Hotel, Colombo.

The three sponsors also signed their agreements with the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka on this day.
 

According to him the events are to commence on February 23 with the Wayamba Province race with the participation of riders from Kurunegala and Puttalm District. The co-ordination of this event will completely handled by the two district Associations and conducted by the Federation Officials.

The other Provincial events too will have same system. The riders of all these Provinces should send in their entries to the respective District Associations. But the North Central Province will be handled by the Anuradhapura Association as the Polonnaruwa Association is not functioning properly.

Piyasena said that this Championship which will be completed in September will give an opportunity for the up and coming riders to come out with their best. Through this Championship the Association hopes to find the young talent to give the necessary training for them to reach national level.

The riders will have chance prove their ability as the Elite riders are not permitted to compete in this championship. This the Association consider as the best way to send the message to the young riders who aspiring for future career in Cycling.

He further said that the final of the championship is to be held in Kalutara. Fifteen riders from each Province will qualify for the final at Kalutara. The men will have to ride for 120 kilometres, while the women riders are compete riding a distance of 45 kilometres. The final too will be of the same distance.

The itinerary for the other six events are Southern Province (Galle, Matara, Hambantota) on March 22, North Central (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa) April 11, Sabaragamuwa (Kegalle, Ratnapura) May 10, Western Province (Colombo, Gampaha, Kalutara) June 14, Central Province (Kandy, Nuwara Eliya) July 12, Uva Province (Badulla, Moneragala) Aug. 9.

The winners are to receive very heavy cash awards in addition to the trophies on offer to the winners of all stages as well as the final. The overall Champion at the final will receive the highest cash award of 200,000 which is also the biggest reward for a rider in the history of cycling in Sri Lanka. The winner of the women category too get a cash award of Rs. 100,000.

According to sponsors the amount they hope to dispense for the event is well over 15m. Asanga Jayasuriya Chief Executive of Neth FM said that the sponsorship is for a good cause as this sporting event is an event where people from all parts the country get the opportunity to compete.

Our intention was to give the people of this country their due and that is why we thought it is a fitting one to sponsor.

Sanjaya Senarath General Manager who represented the Hutch said that his Company serves the whole country through their net work and the sport we have joined too is one that can go through all parts of the so it became a must for us join hands with CFSL.

Yohan Silva Senior General Manager Associated Motorways speaking said that his Company being one of the leading fully fledged local company has a right to serve its consumers in what ever possible way. This prompted us to tie up with Cycling which is a sport that that spread right through the country.

For more details on the event can be obtained by dialling 077348776 or 0773593393.