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Mobitel Sales Manager Denham Perera (third from right) handing over the sponsorship to Yak Attack Founder and Managing Director Phil Evans. From left: SriLankan Airlines Manager SriLankan Holidays Gayan Peiris, SriLankan Airlines Manager Media Development Deepal V. Perera, SriLankan Airlines Regional Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives Saminda Perera, Lanka Sportreizen Chairman P.T. Weerasinghe and Lanka Sportreizen Chief Executive Officer D.K.R. Dharmapala
The event will be held in Kuda Oya, Balaharuwa and will extend for next three days, while SriLankan Holidays, the leisure arm of SriLankan Airlines, joins hands with Lanka Sportsreizen for the SriLankan segment of the event.
SriLankan Airlines Regional Manager – Sri Lanka and Maldives Saminda Perera said: “We are immensely pleased to be the official airline of this event, which has attracted many internationally reputed riders. While competing their way to the finish, I hope the participants will explore the diversity and natural beauty of the country.”
The track is run via Kuda Oya, Beragala, Haputale and Idalgashinna, passing through rivers, cannels, tea areas, jungles and mud tracks to reach the destination. The opening leg will see the riders advancing from Kuda Oya to Haputale on an 80 km route, and on the second day they will pass another 80 km to reach Kalupahana. The third day will see the riders advancing to Nuwara Eliya from where they will pedal off to Kandy on a 64-km track.
Yak Attack Founder and Managing Director Phil Evans with two participants, Sonya Looney USA and Matt Ewonns Canada
He said the landscape of Sri Lanka will be promoted in the world map as the most eye catching destination for riders, while supporting the aim of SriLankan Airlines to promote the country as a world famous tourist destination.
Over 40 internationally-reputed riders from 17 countries – namely, Australia, Canada, France, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Nepal, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, UK, USA, Germany and Switzerland – are expected to brave through the diverse terrain and climate unique to Sri Lanka via a network of rarely travelled ‘off road trails’ and quiet, back country lanes covering variable terrain across the island’s highest plateau.
The organisers said that they have nominated six of Sri Lanka’s best timekeepers for the event through the support of the Sri Lanka Cycling Federation.
Sri Lanka Sportreizen Founder Thilak Weerasinghe said: “We hope to connect Sri Lankan riders with the international circuit who cover the track in eight hours. So I believe this is an unparallel chance for them to enter the international level.”
Organisers further said it has allocated more than $ 20 b for the organising of the event including the cost for prizes. They further said the winner will receive $ 5,000 and entire budget allocation for the prizes is $ 20,000.
They believe that the four women out of the world’s best time recorders who will participate will add colour to the event.
From the start to the end of the race, each rider will be insured for Rs. 1 million. Apart from that, two ambulances, a mechanic team and a four wheel cab with mechanic equipment and medical trained staff and doctors will be provided.
Race founder Yak Attack Phil Evans said that they are very pleased to hold the event on this time in here and they believe participants will be able to get the experience of hard tracks in the mountain areas in Sri Lanka.
The four-day riding challenge will be concluded with the prize giving on 23 November.
As the National Carrier, Sri Lankan has been endorsing sports events such as the Carlton Rugby 7s, Colombo Marathon and their signature corporate sports event – SriLankan Golf Classic, where the international participation inevitably brings in the attention of international media, which in return helps to promote the country.
Pic by Daminda Harsha Perera
