简体中文
By APD writer Maverick
JAKARTA, Jan. 22 (APD) – Indonesia’s prominent destination in western region, Bintan island, was scheduled to resume hosting a cycling championship in March this year with over 1,100
cyclists from 43 countries were already registered to take part in the annual event.
The upcoming event, Tour de Bintan, would be part of Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 2018 Grand Fondo World Series, slated to be held from March 23 to 25, the organizer said.
The cyclists compete in a competitive race.
“The target to have 1,100 international cyclists contending in the race has been reached at present. We want to see more of them registered here until March,” Bintan Tourism Office Chairman Luki Zainal Prawira said recently.
He added that the cycling event this year was highly expected to attract at least 5,000 foreign cyclists and their officials.
The number of international cyclists taking part in the event continued to increase from 824 in 2016 to 1,045 ones that came from 40 countries in 2017, he said.
He said that the 2018 Tour de Bintan would contend various classes in various distances, comprised of 17 kilometers Individual Time Trial, 144 kilometers Gran Fondo Classic, 111 kilometers Gran Fondo Century, 82 kilometers Gran Fondo Challenge and 55 kilometers Gran Fondo Discovery.
The race routes would pass through prominent tourism spots in the island which was highly praised for its beautiful sceneries and beaches with white sands.
Indonesia Tourism Minister Arief Yahya hailed resumption of Tour de Bintan, saying that it would further boost Bintan tourism, attract the arrivals of foreign tourists in the Indonesia’s resort island which is close to Singapore.
“The sport tourism event has high media value with massive coverage carried out by foreign media in every corner of the island, since the start until conclusion of the event,” the minister said.
(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)
