Air Force Cycle Tour:

Sailor Kumara wins first stage

Bernard PERERA in Bandarawela

K. S. Kumara of Sri Lanka Navy won the first stage of the Sri Lanka Air Force Cycle Tour at Bandarawela yesterday. He was followed by Sri Lanka Army’s Indika Warnasuriya and Janak Samarasekera of Wing Wheel Club.

The race which commenced with 102 riders opposite SLAF Headquarters passed through Nugegoda, Maharagama, Homagama, Avissawella, Ratnapura and Pelmadulla where the riders had a break of two hours.

When they finished this stage it was a different set of riders who were in front with Hemantha Kumara of Navy leading the pack of ten riders. These riders clocked 3 hrs and 15 minutes for the ride up to this stage.

The second lap of the race commenced with all riders facing the toughest part of the event. They had to climb the most difficult section from Beragala to Haputale.

Twelve riders broke off the main bunch before reaching Balangoda. These riders once again split into two groups with many riders who were not in the front upto Pelmadulla taking the lead. The start of the Beragala Pass saw three riders Sumanaweera, Kumara and Warnasuriya peddling their way to reach Haputale town first.

Sumanaweera fell back a little bit and it was Army’s Warnasuriya in the lead. Coming half way to the climb Kumara broke off and got to the lead which he held on to till he was flagged off at Bandarawela.

The time difference between these three riders was less than a minute. The other riders finished in bunches.

The renowned riders Meemanage Perera, Wasantha Harischandra and Sujith Silva finished with the second bunch giving an indication that they are expecting to fight back in the second and final stage from Nuwara Eliya to Colombo.

The event is sponsored by Singer Sri Lanka Ltd.

Results: 1. K. S. Kumara, 2. Indika Warnasuriya, 3. Janak Sumanaweera.