TOUR DE AIR FORCE ON APRIL 2, 3 AND 4
The Tour DeAir Force ‘Guwan Hamuda Papedi Sawariya’ will be conducted for the 16th consecutive year, to coincide with the 64th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force. The three day event will take place on April 2, 3 and 4. The entire distance of the race is 432.1 km.
This cycle race is exclusively sponsored by the Abans Group of Companies. The objective of the race is to offer an opportunity to the cycling fraternity to take part in a competitive event and to promote the sport in Sri Lanka. This race is ranked at National level and conducted under the auspices of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. Over one hundred males and thirty females (Sri Lankan ranking and other riders registered with the CFSL) are expected to compete at this race.
The race will start at the Air Force Headquarters in Colombo and will pass through Matale, Dambulla, Puttalam, Palavi and terminate in front of the AF Headquarters in Colombo.
The men’s race will commence on April 2 and will finish finish in Matale (158 Km). On the following day the race will start at Dambulla and finish at Puttalam (145 Km). On the third day the race will start at Palavi in Puttalam to finish in front of Air Force Headquarters, Colombo (129 Km). In addition to the men’s race, a women’s race is scheduled to take place onApril 4 from Katunayake to Colombo and will finish in front of Air the Force Headquarters (83 Km).
A press conference was held at the Air Force Headquarters regarding the event and Group Captain Kithsiri Leelaratne, Secretary of the Air Force Cycling Committee, said that this event was first held in 1990, except for 2008, the event had been the main cycling tour in the island and Abans would be sponsoring the event for the ninth consecutive year.
This year cyclists from India and Pakistan Air Force teams will add colour to the event. Each team will consist of six cyclists.
Entries for the race will close on March 25 (Wednesday) and should be sent to Group Captain Leelaratne, Secretary Air Force Cycling Committee, Air Force Headquarters, Colombo or Fax: 0012343964.
The prize money for the event is as follows: Men First Place: Rs. 300,000.00. Sprint Champions: Rs. 30,000. Youth Rider (Under 23): Rs. 75,000. Best Hill Climber: Rs.10,000. Overall prize money will amount to Rs. 1.4 million.
Women (Distance 83 km) 1st Place: Rs.75,000; 2nd Place: Rs. 50,000 and Third: Rs. 25,000. Women’s Sprint champions: Rs. 10,000.
The final awards ceremony will be held at the Rifle Green grounds at Colombo at 6 pm onApril 4 2015 where the Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Kolitha Gunatilleke will grace the occasion with the sponsors and other distinguished guests.