Tour de Air Force cycling race from February 28

From left: Eranga Geeganage (Director Media SL Air Force), Prof. Shemal Fernando (Director General Department of Sports Development), Air Vice Marshal Indika Wickramasingha (Chairman Sri Lanka Air Force Cycling Council), Group Captain Ranga Perera (Secretary Air Force Cycling) and Camila Janaranga (General Manager Abans (Pvt) Ltd during the token cheque presentation.  
(Pix Kithsiri de Mel)

By Susil Premalal  

The Cycling Union of Sri Lanka Air Force (CUSLAF) will conduct the 26th edition of the Tour de Air Force (Sri Lanka) 2025 three-day cycling race from February 28 to March 2 from Weerawila to Colombo.  

Abans is the Tour de Air Force title sponsors for the 16th year and co-sponsored by People’s Insurance and Baliban Vitagen.  

The organisers of the race expect nearly 165-170 elite and national level cyclists affiliated with the Cycling Federation of Sri Lanka to participate in the race.  

Accordingly, the first stage covering a distance of 140.5km is scheduled to be held on February 28 from Weerawila through Ambalantota, Embilipitiya and Ratnapura.   

The second stage (118.3km) is scheduled to be held on March 1 from Ratnapura through Avissawella, 
Kegalle, Kandy.  

The third stage (155.2km) will be held on March 2 from Kandy through Kurunegala, Pannala, Negombo, Ja-Ela, Colombo and Galle Face.  

This is the main cycling tour that is held at national level in the country at the start of every year.  

The total distance of the Tour de Air Force Men’s elite and Men’s Under-23 competition is 414km. The 14th edition of the women’s one-day race will be held from Mirigama to Colombo on March 2.   

The distance for the Women’s race is 87km from Mirigama, Giriulla, Pannala, Negombo, Ja-Ela, Colombo and Galle Face.  

The winners and the runners-up will receive cash awards amounting to Rs. 2.3m.  

Sri Lanka Air Force will also invite Air Force cycling competitors from the South Asian region to the Tour de Air Force Cycling Race, which is being held in conjunction with the 74th Anniversary of the Sri Lanka Air Force.