Rs 2.5 million up for grabs in Tour de Air Force Cycling Race

Action from the previous edition of Tour de Air Force

By Susil Premalal

The Cycling Union of Sri Lanka Air Force has decided to award a sum of rupees 2.5 million as prize money for the 24th edition of the Tour de Air Force (Sri Lanka) 2023 Cycling Race starting March 2 (today) at 8.30 a.m. in front of Airforce Headquarters.

Held to coincide with the 72nd Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), this cycling event will be flagged off by the Commander of the Air Force Air Marshal Sudarshana Pathirana.
Nippon Paint Lanka Pvt Ltd will be the Principal Sponsor for Tour de Air Force Cycling Race this time.

The SLAF says that over 185 riders both graded and non-graded who are affiliated with the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka are going to participate in this Cycling Tour. The Tour de Air Force Cycling Race which consists of three stages will cover a total distance of 408 km.

The first stage on March 2 is from Colombo to Kandy (123km), the second stage on March 3 is from Pallekele to Polonnaruwa (154km) and the third and final stage on March 4 is from Polonnaruwa to Anuradhapura (131km).

Apart from the three-day men’s race, the 12th edition of the women’s one day cycling race is on March 4 from Habarana to Anuradhapura.

The winner of the men’s race will receive Rs.400,000 while the women’s race winner will get Rs.100,000.

Prize money will be awarded for 1st to 25th places in the men’s race and 1st to fifth place in the women’s race. 

Awishka Madonza and Shalika Dilini of SL Army became the men & women overall champion of the last edition held in 2022.