Tour De Air Force will be flagged off on March 3
Channa Pathirna, Deputy Director L.G. Abans hands over the Sponsorship package to Air Vice Marshall Sudara Kotakadeniya, Chairman Cycling Union Sri Lanka Air Force.
Plans have been finalised for the Tour De Air Force which will commence on March 3 and will end on March 5. The event is to be held in three stages from Colombo to Jaffna, involving a total distance of 415 km.
This is the first national cycling event for 2017. Sri Lanka Air Force Cycling Union are organising the event to mark the 66th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The race is being held for the18th successive year. The first stage on March 3 will commence at the Air Force Headquarters in Colombo and proceed to Puttalam – a distance of 128 km. The second stage is on March 4 will be from Puttalam to Vavuniya – a distance of 138 km. The final stage will be from Vavuniya to the Duraiappah Stadium in Jaffna – a distance of 148 km.
Twelve foreign Air Force riders will take part in the event. They will be from India and Pakistan. The total number of participants is expected to be between 175 to 200 riders.
Entries will close tomorrow (Feb. 27).
184 cyclists took part in the event last year. A parallel women’s race too will be held on March 5 from Kilinochchi to Jaffna – a distance of 69 km.
L.G. Abans will sponsor the event for the 11th consecutive year. The sponsorship cost is around Rs.4 million.
The winners will be in line for cash awards of Rs. 1.9 million. The overall winner will receive Rs. 300.000. The second place winner will receive Rs. 200.000. The third place winner will be in line for a cash award of Rs. 100.000.
Cash awards will be presented from the fourth place winner to the 25th. The overall sprinter will receive Rs. 30.000. The best youngest rider will receive Rs. 75. 000. Other than that the three stage winners too will receive cash awards.
The women’s race winner will receive Rs. 75,000. Second place winners will receive Rs. 50.000 and the third place winner Rs.25.000. The fourth place winner Rs. 15,000 and fifth place winner will receive Rs. 10.000. The sprint winner will receive Rs.10. 000.
The race will also serve as a Talent Search for the 2018 Commonwealth Games to be held in Gold Coast, Australia.