SL T-Cup: Malaysia’s Bakri claims Yellow Jersey

By Madushka Balasuriya

Sofian Bakri of Malaysia claimed the Yellow Jersey at the end of the first stage of the Sri Lanka T-Cup yesterday, as he finished the 132.4 km journey from Passikudah to Mahinyanganaya in a little under three hours (2:54:03). Bakri’s Malaysian National Team (MAS) meanwhile were placed second in the overall team rankings behind Go For Gold (G4G) of Philippines, while Sri Lanka Air Force were in third.

13 teams in total are taking part in this inaugural edition of the Sri Lanka T-Cup: six foreign teams from Bangladesh, Holland, Malaysia, Philippines, Pakistan, and Singapore and eight Sri Lankan teams represented by the Army (SLA), Navy (SRN), Air Force (SAF), Police (SLP), Dehiwela-Mt. Lavinia Municipal Council (DMMC), Sri Lanka Telecom (SLT), and Bianchi Cycles (BNC). 

The race for the Yellow Jersey was a close run affair with Bakri sneaking ahead of G4G’s George Oconer (2:54:04) by just a second. Samuel Volkers (2:54:10) of Holland’s CCN Cycling was seven seconds adrift. The closest Sri Lankan to the Yellow Jersey was Sri Lanka Air Force’s Buddika Warnakulasooriya (2:54:14), who finished fifth 11 seconds off top spot.

The Green Jersey meanwhile, awarded to the rider with the most points, went to G4G’s George Oconer (18 points). MAS’s Sofian Bakri (17) and Irwandie Lakasek (10) were second and third respectively.

The Sri Lanka T-Cup is the first cycling event in Sri Lanka being held in line with international regulations. It is being adjudicated by a panel of reputed UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) accredited international commissaires - a Sri Lankan first - with the blessings of the Ministry of Sports and the support of the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka. Event organisers Lanka Sportreizen (LSR), the travel agency whose support has played a major role in the growth of the Colombo Marathon, hopes the success of the event will lead to, in the next few years, recognition from the Asian Cycling Confederation and registration with the world cycling governing body UCI as an annual event in its official cycling calendar.

The second leg of the SL T-Cup will begin at 9am today in Mahiyanganaya through to Kandy, while day 3 will see cyclists race from Kandy to the finish line in Negombo.