W

ith the Tour d’Khatulistiwa set to hit the road next week in Pontianak and Singkawang the West Kalimantan provincial administration hopes it will promote local tourism.

Some 300 cyclists, including those from foreign countries, will take part in the two-day event from Feb. 22 to 23, and will compete for a total of Rp 500 million (US$51,845) in cash prizes.

Visiting competitors hail from Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, the Philippines, Timor Leste and China.

“There will be two major events — the Pontianak City Road Race on Feb. 22 and the Singkawang Endurance Challenge on Feb. 23,” Dedy W. Kurniawan, a member of the organizing committee, told The Jakarta Post on Thursday.

“The event is being held as part of cultural promotion,” said Dedy, who is an official of the Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI).

The event, which is under the auspices of the National Welfare Ministry, coincides with the Cap Go Meh festivity (a celebration on the 15th day of Chinese New Year).

The Pontianak City Road Race will encompass a 50-kilometer route with a 12-loop course.

The Singkawang Endurance Challenge will go through a 153-kilometer route from Pontianak to Singkawang.

“The Singkawang Endurance Challenge is not a race, but more of an endurance test of the participants to reach Singkawang. There will be a minimum speed set by the organizers,” Dedy said.

He added that the organizers had finished surveying the route from Pontianak to Singkawang.

“The condition of the road is good,” said Successtoria Harly, from the Youth and Sports Agency.

The Singkawang Endurance Challenge will start from the West Kalimantan Gubernatorial office on Jl. A. Yani and finish at the Singkawang mayoralty office, with pit stops at Pondok Grafitasi, Bakau
Besar and Sungai Duri.

The participants will be allowed a 15-minute break at a number of pit stops provided by the organizers.