Attractive cash prizes are on offer to the winners at the Air Force Cycling Sawariya to be held from March 2 to 4 as the riders will have to paddle nearly 400 kilometres.
A total of Rs. 3 million will be given away as prizes with the men’s winner to be rewarded with Rs. 400,000 and women’s winner to be presented with Rs. 100,000.
The second, third, fourth and fifth finishes will also be rewarded substantial sums of money according to the organizers.
Besides, each rider will be given cash each day to meet their incidental expenses after the race.
“The race is organized by the Air Force Sports Club on behalf of the commander Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana, in the month of March as it coincides with their 72nd anniversary celebrations,” said Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera chairman of the organizing committee.
The race that was inaugurated in 1999 is a very grueling race held over three days. There will also be sprint races at certain points and almost all the riders will enter as teams. Each team will consist of ten men riders while women will have six cyclists in each team.
When the men’s race is held over three days the women’s race will be held only on the last day.
The men’s race will begin in Colombo near the Air Force headquarters and proceed through Ja-Ela to Gampaha and finish in Kandy on the first day. The race will begin at the Pallekelle cricket ground in Kandy on the second day and finish at the Kanduruwela bus station.
The third stage will finish at the Salgado Sports ground in Anuradhapura. Crowds are expected to gather to witness the finish of the races and stay for the presentation of awards to the winners. The chief guest at the prize distribution will be the commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sudharshana Pathirana.
These details were revealed to the media at a briefing held at the Air Force Headquarters on Wednesday (22).
There were 220 riders when the race was held last year. There are about 140 entries for the men’s race so far and the number is expected to be more than 180 before the closing date on February 27. About 40 riders are expected to enter the women’s race.
Air Vice Marshal Lasitha Sumanaweera the chairman of the organizing committee of Air Force Cycling said that the event would not have been possible without the sponsors. They will be supported by Nippon Paint, People’s Insurance, Abans, Maliban Vitagen energy drink and SLT Mobitel who have contributed generously towards making this race a success.