TOUR DE AIR FORCE COMMENCES TODAY FROM COLOMBO TO JAFFNA

The 18th Tour De Air Force Cycle Race will be flagged off today from Colombo to Jaffna commencing at 8.30 am. The event will be conducted in three stages. The race which commences today will end in Jaffna on March 5. The total distance of the three stages is 415 km.

One hundred and ninety-six (196) riders including foreign Air Force riders will be in the fray. This is the largest number of riders to take part in this event said Group Captain L.M.S.K. Leelaratne, Secretary. Sri Lanka Air Force Cycling Union.

Today’s first stage will be from Colombo to Puttalam, a distance of 128 km. The race will be flagged off by Air Force Commander Air Marshall Kapila Jayampathy.

The second stage on March 4 will be from Puttalam to Vavuniya, a distance of 138 km.

The final stage will be on March 5 (Sunday) from Vavuniya to Jaffna Durayappah Stadium, a distance of 148 km.

L.G. Abans are the sponsors of the event for the 11th successive time. The entire sponsorship amounts to Rs. Four Million. The overall winners will be in line for cash awards of Rs. 1.9 Million. The overall winner will receive a cash award of Rs. 300.000. All those who finish within the first 25 will receive cash awards.

The women’s race will commence on March 5 and will be from Kilinochchi to Jaffna. Thirty riders are billed part in the event so far.

The winner of the women’s race will receive a cash award of Rs. 75.000. The first six to finish the race will also receive cash awards.

The race is being held to mark the 66th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force