The 24 hour international bicycle race, ‘Race The Pearl’ is back with riders from the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, India and Sri Lanka bringing the much needed destination tourism value to Sri Lanka. The race will be flagged off from Point Pedro at dawn on October 28 and finish at Dikwella 24 hours later, on October 29.
The 600 kilometre route in Sri Lanka connects 100 cities and towns over 100,000 spectators along the route.
Tour De France Stage Winner 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), are among the celebrity riders in the race, which is now in its 6th edition. There will also be female riders from India and Sri Lanka.
Agnes Safford from the USA, a Finisher of RTC, will be riding for the fourth time this year.
Race The Pearl will have nearly 65 riders cycling from the northern tip of Point Pedro to the southern tip of Dondra in Sri Lanka.
Race Director and Organizer of Race The Pearl Yasas Hewage mentioned that 24 riders will be cycling continuously in pursuit of the RAAM qualification. “Some others will participate in a relay, racing in five phases in groups or as individuals.”
Given that the route takes riders across both urban and rural terrain, riders also add value to rural economies with micro and small and medium establishments by engaging with business owners along the way and interacting with them
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 Race is organized by Spinner Cycling and partnered by Jetwing Hotels as Gold Sponsor. MAS Holdings innovated the Rider Jersey, Dikwella Hotel & 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.
Sajeewa Jayakody