Airmen continue their dominance

Yasaratne GAMAGE Reporting from Dambulla

Sri Lanka Air Force did not allow other cyclists to enjoy the second day when Jeewan Jayasinghe steered to win the second stage of the Air Force Cycle tour 2012 at Dambulla yesterday while his team mates Buddika Warnakulasooriy and Sujith Silva finished second and third respectively.

It was all airmen’s day with tour leader Jeewan in yellow tee shirt and last year winner Buddika had a lead of 4 minutes in the second bunch which was led by another Airman Sujith who finished the race at Dambulla yesterday.

The race started at Puttalam bus station and 90 cyclists rode along Anamaduwa, Nikaweratiya , Padeniya to Kurunegala where they turned left to take Anuradhapura road to finish the tour at Dambulla for the second day.

Asisi Fernandopulle of Sri Lanka Navy - C SC finished first in sprint 3 at Wariyapola while Lasantha Kumara of Sri Lanka Police SC came behind him. Airman Samantha Lakmal was in third position when he passed third sprint.

When the cyclists passed Kurunegala , Jeewan and Buddika with Nishantha Perera of DMMC SC broke away from the rest of the competitors. Most of the cyclists found it challenging as the route was a mixture of plain terrain and hilly conditions which was harder to cycle through than the previous day.

At Omaragolla , Jeewan and Buddika took the advantage of tiredness of Nishantha who also had a bit of delay while being fed. When Nishantha was descending the steeply slope Jeewan and Buddika were far from his reach.

So it was Jeewan and Buddika to share the fourth sprint at Galewela with the tour leader in front.. The crowds were seen really enjoying the race limning up along the road and cheering the speeding cyclists all the way from Puttalam to Dambulla.

Since then there was no challenge for Jeewan and Buddika until the finish line. But on the way Buddika was seen exhausted but Jeewan showing his commitment as the team leader did not let his team mate down.

They both cycled together about Km 50 separated, and well away from the other cyclists.

Jeewan at the presentation after the race said that he was delighted to see his team performing well yesterday and also expressed his satisfaction to drag his team mate Buddika for almost Km 15 when he was about to slow down. He was delighted to win the race as all competitors were cycling well for most of the race.

Yesterday race was a clear evidence of team work as the other cyclists from Sri Lanka Air Force gave their maximum support to the three cyclists including the team leader who were in front by giving a tough resistance so that others could not overtake Jeewan and Buddika.

Today is the final day of the race which starts from Dambulla and will finish at Air Force Headquarters in Colombo.

The award presentation will be at the finishing point with the presence of Ari Force Commander Air Marshal Harsha D Abeywickckrama as the chief guest.