Indonesia to host inaugural Tour de Singkarak this year

Agnes Winarti, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Wed, 03/25/2009 1:56 PM

This year, for the first time, Indonesia will host the US$60,000 Tour de Singkarak in West Sumatra, from April 28 to May 4.

The Tour de Singkarak will consist of four stages: a 4-kilometer first stage team time trial in the West Sumatra capital, Padang; a 92-km second stage from Padang to Bukittinggi; a third stage comprising an 85-km leg from Bukittinggi to Sawahlunto and then a 93-km leg from Sawahlunto to Singkarak Lake; and a 188-km fourth stage from Singkarak Lake to Kembar Lake.

"Fifteen countries have confirmed their entrance in the Tour de Singkarak," Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) deputy chairman Sofyan Ruzian said on Monday.

Foreign countries that have confirmed competitors are Qatar, New Zealand, Iran, Japan, the Netherlands, Taiwan, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Australia and Switzerland.

"These countries will confirm names of their athletes before the end of this month," said Sofyan, adding that there would be more than 80 international cyclists taking part.

Japan and Malaysia will have two teams representing each. Indonesia will have 10, spearheaded by national star cyclists Kaswanto, Angga Fredli, Tonton Susanto, Ryan Ariehaan, Samai and Yudho Sasongko.

"Most of them, except Yudho Sasongko, are cyclists specializing in long-distance rides," ISSI development chief Wahyudi Hidayat said.

Tonton of Team Dodol Picnic Garut, for example, was the Asia division winner of the 2002 Tour de Langkawi tournament, Malaysia. Meanwhile, Ryan was a gold snatcher in the road race at the 2007 SEA Games, and Samai won gold in the 2005 SEA Games.

When asked about the national team's target in the championship, Wahyudi said "We do not want to set our targets too high, but we hope our cyclists will be of the same standard as cyclists from other Asian and Southeast Asian countries."

The Tour de Singkarak event is being organized by ISSI, in cooperation with the Culture and Tourism Ministry - which is aiming to promote the Visit Indonesia 2009 program through the event.