Lanka SportsRizen pioneers SL T’ Cup Cycling classic
View(s):Organisers Lanka SportsRizen (LSR) has introduced a new dimension to Cycling in Sri Lanka (SL), by pioneering the SL T’ Cup Cycling classic the first international cycle race, scheduled from April 6 to 8 from the east to west coast in Sri Lanka.
Man with a vision, LSR Managing Director Thilak Weerasinghe who launched the Colombo Marathon, the only international marathon to be held in SL, is about to add another milestone to his inventory of international events with the SL T’ Cup, with its traditional blend and flavour. He aims to develop Cycling in SL to international standards.
“My final target is to host this in the international calendar of the Union Cycling International (UCI). We have invited an international panel of commissaries (judges) from Malaysia and Japan to conduct the tour to UCI standards with info motto for communications, timing and result services, radio tour all handled by foreign experts in this field. LSR is investing on this tour and SriLankan Airlines our official carrier. I am not looking at short term benefits, but looking at the broader prospects that SL T’ Cup will derive for the country and sport at large,” Weerasinghe stated.
UCI International Commissar N. Karunaratne is the Technical Director of the race. He stressed that, this is the first international tour organised in SL, run to UCI qualified standards, with mobile neutral services, official team cars for each team, radio car for race communications and photo finish equipment. The SL Police will play a major role in traffic control, with the least inconvenience to road users. The neutral services is handled by Bianchi Cycles of Italy, veterans in the field and first service provider to handle an international race of this calibre.
Foreign officials set to make their contribution at the race are Chief Commissaire Jamauddin Mahmood from Malaysia, Commissaries Kikuchi Tsunenori from Japan and Ibrahim Omar from Malaysia, Edward Park from Korea, Timing and Result Services by Fredrick Chan from Hong Kong and Radio Tour by Beatrice Lajawa from Boneo Islands.
The race is open to elite road cyclists and already seven foreign and ten local teams have confirmed their participation. Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, Netherlands, Kenya, Singapore and Hong Kong have confirmed that they will send cyclists to compete at T’ Cup Race. India has been invited but their confirmation is pending. Sri Lanka will be represented by teams from Army, Navy, Air Force, Police, Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council, Sri Lanka Ports Authority, Sri Lanka Telecom, SriLankan Airlines and Bianchi Cycles. - SP  Â