Prabash Silva clinches Lanka Ride Stage 2

In a dramatic turn of events, Prabash Madushanka Silva from the Navy SC stole the limelight as he clinched the second stage of the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race from Gannoruwa to Anuradhapura yesterday.

The 29-year-old cyclist from Negombo, who failed to make an impact on the opening day, made amends for that setback as he powered his way to claim top honours ahead of today’s final showdown from Anuradhapura to Colombo.

Prabash had a disappointing first stage from Colombo to Gannoruwa on Friday and had to be content with the 30th position with a time of 2:59:01s. However, this was a tremendous improvement from Prabash as he toiled hard along with over 100 elite cyclists under tough and humid conditions covering a gruelling 135.5km.

The significant feature in stage 2 was that none of the award winners of the first stage reached the top 10 in Anuradhapura as the tour leader Sandaruwan Pinto (Army SC) and Saranga Perera (Army SC) both fell apart on a flat route under pressure.

As a result, Army SC took a backseat in the overall team championship with Navy SC and Police SC also joining the title race.

The third and final stage of the Lanka Ride Cycle Race will be held today from Anuradhapura to Colombo covering 208.6km. The race will commence with a 10km free run from Anuradhapura to Ulukkuluma and the competitors will proceed along Puttalam, Chilaw, Katunayake, Wattala and will finish at Independent Square.

The top 10

1, Prabash Silva (Navy) – 3:04:51s. 2, Sajith Maduranga (Diamond SC, Rajagiriya) – 3:04:51s. 3, Chathuranga Silva (Civil Security Division) – 3:04:51. 4, Gihan Lakmal (Dehiwala/Mount Lavinia Municipal Council) – 3:04:51s. 5, Sandaruwan Kumarasinghe (Police SC) – 3:04:51s. 6, Isuru Tharanga (Sri Lankan Ports Authority) – 3:04:51s. 7, Rumesh Abishek (Police SC) – 3:04:51s. 8, P. D. Chandika (Navy SC) – 3:04:51s. 9, D. A. Prasanga (Navy SC) – 3:06:27s. 10, S.M. Tissera (Army SC) – 3:06:27.

Prabash eye team championship in final stage

Lanka Ride Stage 2 winner Prabash Madushanka Silva said that he will be making a determined effort to help his team Navy SC clinch the overall team championship after today’s final stage from Anuradhapura to Colombo.

“I bought this cycle for Rs. 1.5 million through a finance and I am still repaying it and to win this difficult stage was a huge morale booster for my career,” Prabash told the Sunday Observer.

“I won the gold medal at the 2019 South Asian Games and I want to dedicate this win to all my friends, brothers and relatives who had helped me throughout my journey,”

“I had a tough first stage the other day but this time I was more determined to make and impression and I want to keep the momentum and help my team win the overall team championship,” Prabash said.

“The flat route along Matale and Dambulla was ideal for me and I expect the conditions will be similar for today’s third and final stage from Anuradhapura to Colombo,” Prabash added.

Sajith Maduranga emerged as the best Under-23 rider in the second stage of the inaugural Lanka Ride Cycle Race held from Anuradhapura to Colombo yesterday and was presented with the Lake House jersey.The former schoolboy from Vidyaloka MV, Katana and now representing Diamond SC, Rajagiriya secured second place in Anuradhapura after a disappointing first stage from Colombo to Gannoruwa on Friday.

“This is a dream come true for me because this is the first time that I have made an impact in a major cycle race and I want to continue with the good work in the third and final stage from Anuradhapura to Colombo,” Sajith told the Sunday Observer. “I had an injury while climbing the Uthuwankanda mountain on the first stage but this time I was more determined to make an impact and took a decisive step at Balakaduwa to break free from the main group,” Sajith added.