6th ‘Race The Pearl’ flags off
The Pearl Jersey handed over to Race Organiser Yasas Hewage by Muditha Padmasiri of MAS with Tour De France Stage winner Jan Bakelants and UCI Pro Race winner Piotr Havik
The 24-hour international cycling challenge – Race The Pearl – is back with a collective of riders from the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, India and Sri Lanka. Among them are Tour De France stage winner and yellow jersey holder of during 2013 Stages 2 and 3, Belgian Jan Bakelants, UCI Pro Race winner Piotr Havik from the Netherlands and Srinivas Gokulanathan, the first Indian to complete Race Across America (RAAM), up the celebrity rider stakes in the race, which is now in its sixth edition. There will also be female riders from India and Sri Lanka, including Agnes Safford from the USA, a finisher of RTC, who will be riding for the fourth time this year.
An official qualifier for the globally renowned ultra-distance RAAM cycle race that covers 4,800 kilometres in the USA, Race The Pearl will have nearly 65 riders cycling from the northern tip of Point Pedro to the southern tip of Dondra Head in Sri Lanka.
The 600 kilometre route in Sri Lanka connects 100 cities and towns and as well as about 100,000 spectators along the route. It is one of the key high-octane ultra-distance road cycling races that RAAM organisers have selected to name as a qualifier. The race flagged off from Point Pedro at dawn yesterday and finishes at Dikwella 24 hours later, today.
“Some others will participate in a relay, racing in the five phases in groups or as individuals. Those who complete the race within the cut off time of 24 hours will get the prestigious Pearl Jersey, which sports a unique design inspired by Sri Lankan wildlife,” Race Director and Organiser of Race The Pearl, Yasas Hewage mentioned.
Given that the route takes riders across both urban and rural terrain, riders also add value to rural economies with micro and small and medium establishments by engaging with business owners along the way and upskilling them with this interaction.
“This race has continued uninterrupted during the last three years, the most challenging era for tourism. Having always attracted riders from around the world and being a RAAM qualifying race are amazing platforms for Sri Lanka’s niche tourism opportunities,” Hewage reiterated.
The race is organised by Spinner Cycling and partnered by sponsors Jetwing Hotels, MAS Holdings, Dikwella Hotel, Browns Hotel Group, Sol Fitness Resorts India, Liv Foundation, Daily FT, Pulse and Yes FM.