REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Indonesia has the potential to emerge as the world's cycling destination, the Chairman of the Executive Board of the Indonesian Sport Bike Association, Raja Sapta Oktohari, said here on Monday.
He pointed out that cycling championships being organized in Indonesia include road race, MTB (mountain bike), BMX (bicycle motocross), and Down Hill, and these have been happening across the country, not only in Java island.
"The latest one is the Tour de Flores 2016, the first international cycling championship held in eastern Indonesia," Okto noted.
According to him, besides being sports championship, the tour also aimed at promoting the new tourist destination in Flores island.
The event has evoked many positive responses from the participants, including those who have come from abroad.
The tour, which starts in Larantuka and ends in Labuan Bajo, has challenging tracks with high climbs and steep downhill lanes that will prove to be a thrilling experience for the participants.
"Tour de Flores can be held every year as we are receiving a very good response," he claimed, adding that the race with a track distance of 661.5 km was won by Daniel Whitehouse from the Terengganu Cycling Team Malaysia.
In addition to the Tour de Flores, there are others, such as Tour de Sabang, Tour de Siak and Tour de Singkarak, all of which have been held in Sumatra.
In addition to the road race, Sumatra also hosts the BMX international championship in Siak and the MTB and Down Hill championship in Lubuk Linggau.
Meanwhile, Java also sees championships such as the International Tour de Ijen and Tour de East Java.
Borneo island has Tour de Khatulistiwa (Equator) and Tour de Borneo, while in Sulawesi, there will be Tour de Makassar, slated for this year-end.
"With these international championships, we are optimistic that Indonesia could become an international destination for cycling championships," Okto concluded.
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