The 24 hour international bicycle race – Race the Pearl – was flagged off yesterday with a cast of riders from the USA, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, India and Sri Lanka according to the organizers.
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 the Race Across America (RAAM) are in the fray along with female riders from India and Sri Lanka.
Race the Pearl is an official qualifier for the globally renowned ultra-distance RAAM cycle race that covers 4,800 kilometers in the USA and it has nearly 65 riders cycling from the northern tip of Point Pedro to the southern tip of Dondra Head in Sri Lanka.
The 600 kilometer route in Sri Lanka connects 100 cities and towns and according to an official the race is expected to draw 100,000 spectators along the route.
It is one of the key high-octane ultra-distance road cycling races that RAAM organizers have selected to name as a qualifier and the race was flagged off from Point Pedro at dawn yesterday to finish today at Dikwella 24 hours later.
Speaking at a media conference, Race Director and organizer of Race the Pearl, Yasas Hewage said 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 and small and medium establishments by engaging with business owners along the way and upskilling them with this interaction”, said Hewage.
Hewage claimed 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 an RAAM qualifying race are amazing platforms for Sri Lanka’s niche tourism opportunities,” said Hewage.
