24-hour cycling records smashed at Race The Pearl 2023

Tuesday, 31 October 2023 01:36 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Record setters Piotr Havik and Jan Bakelants

SL Navy’s Anne Shenali became the first woman to wear the Pearl Jersey

Jan from Belgium and Piotr from the Netherland set the pace in 600 km north to south ultra-endurance contest

The 6th Edition Race The Pearl 2023 held on 28 October saw all Race Category Records being broken, led by the pace set in front by two riders Piotr Havik and Jan Bakelants.

Bakelants is a cycling legend with a Tour De France stage victory under his belt and Havik is a multiple UCI Race winner. This epic race required the cyclists and crew to navigate 600 kilometres from the northern tip to the southern coast of Sri Lanka on a non-stop ride.

Piotr Havik and Jan Bakelants raised the bar with an extraordinary performance as they broke the record for the 24-hour team category as they reached the finish line in 18:24:10.

The race line up also included Srinivas Gokulnath, the first Indian to complete Race Across America with a well-structured support crew. He too went on to achieve great timing and earn the Pearl Jersey.

Significant increase in women participation was noteworthy in this event. Alongside Anne Shenelli, three other women’s finishers at RTP 2023.

A 72-year-old veteran from the US, Agnes Safford, posted her personal best time at RTP by improving her finish time once again. Two local female cyclists, Charlene Thuring and Sumedha Rathnayaka followed Agnes to the finish to be recognised as RTP 2023 finishers. More details on Race The Pearl web www.racethepearl.com.

The race was organised by Spinner Cycling for the sixth consecutive time and partnered by Jetwing Hotels as Gold Sponsor. MAS Holdings innovated the Rider Jersey, Dikwella Hotel and Browns Hotel Group at the Finish Line Hotel with Sol Fitness Resorts India connecting the two countries. Liv Foundation joined in as a partner for international promotion, playing a pivotal role connecting the cycling pros to Sri Lanka and raising funds to support vocational education of Sri Lankan children. Daily FT was the print media partner whilst other media sponsors were Pulse on Digital and YES FM on radio.

SL Army Cycling Team