The International Cycling Union (UCI) has indicated that it intends to use the upcoming Gran Fondo Challenge Sri Lanka, which takes place in and around the capital Colombo April 5-7, as something of a litmus test for the future of Asian events. The Gran Fondo Challenge Sri Lanka is part of the UCI World Cycling Tour (UWCT), three days of events – Road Race, Time Trial and Criterium – representing the first time that the series has set out its stall in Asia since its inception in 2011. Naturally Asia has enjoyed a long and successful association with the bike; they are widely used as an economic and environmental means of transportation and, as organisers are keen to highlight, Sri Lanka in particular offers, ‘fair weather, varied landscape, well-built roads and beautiful scenery.’
The number of elite races in the region is also on the rise with events such as the Tour of Beijing (World Tour) and Tour of Langkawi (2.HC) gaining in popularity, and the UCI, it seems, are eager to capitalise on this growth market for both audience and competitors – elite and amateur alike. The UCI has indicated that the Gran Fondo Challenge Sri Lanka will be a key for them to better understand the potentialities (and challenges) that Asia presents, with UCI Development Coordinator Andrea Marcellini commenting, ‘The potential Asia has is immense… In the next few years, we hope to help develop people’s interest in cycling by bringing at least two more UWCT Qualifiers.’
Further details on the Gran Fondo Sri Lanka can be found at granfondosrilanka.com and on the wider UWCT series at uciworldcyclingtour.com
