4-Stage Mountain Biking of sheer strength, stamina and skill at its peak
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The one-of-a-kind biking experience begins on June 14
Courtesy SriLankan Cabin and Ground services, Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), pioneers in adventure sports in Sri Lanka, will lay the red carpet for around 60 foreign and local riders for the 4-Stage 2nd edition of Rumble in the Jungle in Sri Lanka. Stage I of this exciting mountain biking cross country event will will kick start on June 14 from Kuda Oya and cover many undulated terrain and estate byways used by the British ‘Periya Dorais (PD)’ for horse riding.
The local and foreign bikers will pedal across tea estates for misty Haputale, the highest mountain range in Uva, via Wellawaya , preceded of course, by the first hurdle of crossing the gushing waters of Kuda Oya, and then crashing through thick forest to Koslanda, followed by the 45 degree steep climb for over 20 km up to Haputale junction. The ascent is 2,200 metres for a distance of 80 km. Stage II will start on June 15, a detour within the Haputale mountain range going to Lipton Estate, again climbing 2,000 metres covering 80 km, encircling the best bio tea fields and then descending to Beralanda.
Stage III set for June 16, starts from Kalupahana, a remote village, when bikers, again will engage in a do-or-die battle through jungle paths and cross over to Horton Plains in the Nuwara Eliya District, after pedaling their way through thick overgrown shrubs and loops, haunted by the fear of being attacked by wild animals, ending their ordeal in Nuwara Eliya, to relax their battered bodies and grease their bikes for another battle of the fittest. The 4th and final Stage will start on June 17, from Ramboda, again ascending 1,200 metres, struggling for a place in the race, through mud and an unforgiving course of single tracks where one’s endurance is tested to superhuman limits, in a head to head battle where speed with power will determine the ultimate winner.
his event is open for men and women, while LSR has allocated 4 slots for our national riders to be selected by the Mountain Biking Association (MBA). For this purpose, the MBA has sent a circular to all registered clubs to field 2 riders from each club, for trials to be conducted by the first week of June. Contact Amal or Smith on Tel 0777 881650 or 0722240580 First edition winner was from Spain and our local riders Sumedha Warnakulasuriya and Amal Suranga was placed 5th and 6th. Overall 10 winners were awarded with cash prizes and foreign tours as gifts and major honours were taken by Spain, Canada, USA, Nepal, India and Sri Lanka. has given the green light to host this event. – SP