North to south ‘Race The Pearl’ takes off today flagging sports tourism potential

Jan Bakelants

Piotr Havik

 Srinivas Gokulanathan

Grinshina Kartik

Race the Pearl

The north to south 24-hour ultra-endurance “Race The Pearl” kicks off today with several key international names boosting Sri Lanka’s sports tourism potential.

The 600 kilometre race connecting 100 cities and towns will be flagged off from Point Pedro in Jaffna at dawn on Saturday 28 October and finish at Dikwella 24 hours later on 29 October.

Being a 4,800 km-Race Across America (RAAM) qualifying race, the Lankan showpiece event has attracted a dozen foreign riders from Europe, the US and Asia Pacific.

The Tour De France Stage Winner and Yellow Jersey Holder during 2013 stages 2 and 3, Belgian Jan Bakelants, UCI Pro Race Winner Piotr Havik from the Netherlands, and Srinivas Gokulanathan who was 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 (Grinshina Kartik) and Sri Lanka. Agnes Safford from the US, a finisher of RTC, will be riding for the fourth time this year. Other foreign riders include Mohamed Wazeem (British), Raviendran Arunasalem (USA), Krishantha Rathnayake (France) and Sisira Navarathna (Australia).

The race, overall, will feature nearly 65 individual and team riders.

Both Jan Bakelants and Piotr Havik told journalists in Colombo earlier this week that they are happy to be in Sri Lanka for the first time and look forward to an enduring yet exciting ride. 

Race The Pearl Director and Organiser Yasas Hewage said yesterday that 24 riders will be cycling continuously in pursuit of the RAAM qualification. “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.

Given that the route takes riders across both urban and rural terrain, riders also add value to rural economies with micro, small and medium establishments by engaging with business owners along the way and up skilling them with this interaction.

“It is an unbelievable experience to see an island like this from top to bottom in 24 hours,” he said. Cyclists can participate in the race individually or as a group, supported, with a vehicle behind them, or unsupported.

Hewage reiterated that Race The Pearl is the ideal brand marketing platform to promote sports tourism in Sri Lanka. “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.”

The race is organised by Spinner Cycling and partnered by Jetwing Hotels as the Gold Sponsor. MAS Holdings innovated the Rider Jersey, Dikwella Hotel and Browns Hotel Group are the Finish Line Partner with Sol Fitness Resorts India connecting the two countries. Liv Foundation also joins in as a partner for international promotion of Sri Lanka and supporting Sri Lankan children. Media sponsors are Daily FT, YES FM and Pulse.