Some 200 Foreign Cyclists to Participate in Tour de Flores

Kupang, E Nusa Tenggara, March 1 (Antara)- Some 200 cyclists from 16 countries will participate in the Tour de Flores cycling event, which will start in Larantuka, East Flores District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on May 19, this year. "Each country will send some 13 to 15 cyclists," Welly Rohi Mone, spokesman of the East Nusa Tenggara tourism office, stated here, Tuesday. Prior to the event, the participants will join a tour on May 16 to Lewoleba, Lembata District, which is famous for whale watching. The organizing committee will meet them in Banyuwangi, East Java, from where they will fly to Maumere, the district of Sikka. They will later head to Renha town, Larantuka, and thereafter to Lewoleba. "On May 19, all participants should be in Larantuka and begin the event on bicycles to Labuan Bajo," he explained. Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, to be accompanied by East Nusa Tenggara Governor Frans Lebu Raya, will officially kick off the event that will last for a week. Tour de Flores combines a cycling competition with a tour of the area to promote tourism destinations in East Nusa Tenggara. The cyclists will start from Larantuka and head to Maumere. On May 20, they will leave Maumere for Ende in Ende District. On May 21, they will proceed to Bajawa town in Ngada District, and later to East Manggarai, Ruteng town in Manggarai District, and finally finish the last leg of their race in Labuan Bajo, West Manggarai District. The people of Labuan Bajo will greet them with various traditional art and cultural performances and a bazaar. Bearing the tagline "Explore the Amazing Land," the Tour de Flores will cover a distance of 743 kilometers divided into five laps. The Tour de Flores is held under the supervision of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the governing body for international cycling races and the Indonesian association of cycling sport (PB ISSI). ***1***