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Batam to host Nongsa Challenge 2017
The starting point will be at Engku Putri Batam Center Square and then headed to Simpang Kepri Mall.
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Illustration of a cycling race. (Shutterstock/File)
Batam is going to host a sports activity called Nongsa Challenge 2017 on August 27.
The event is a collaborative effort between Cycosports, Turi Beach Resort and is supported by Batam Tourism and Culture Department and the Tourism Ministry.
“This the third time this event is being held. It is a form of recreational sport, a cycling activity. Nongsa has been chosen as one of the tourist destinations for this race,” said Batam Culture and Tourism Department Head, Pebrialin.
The race is divided into four categories, the first category is for cyclists with the speed of 35 km/hour, the second one is for 20 km/hour cyclists, the third and women’s open are for 25 km/hour cyclists.
The starting point will be at Engku Putri Batam Center Square and then headed to Simpang Kepri Mall.
“Then they will take a left turn to a traffic circle, Batu Besar and the Nongsa circuit. The distance between Engku Putri and Simpang tower Nongsa is about 18 kilometers and this route is a warming up for cyclists,” Pebrialin added.
The first and second categories will circle around the Nongsa Main Street for seven laps whilst the third and women’s categories will take five laps. The length of the main street is about 12 kilometers.
“We are adopting the Timing System Online from raceresult.com, this system fits the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) standard,” Pebrialin told.
This race will be joined by 120 cyclists from 18 countries such as United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Japan, France, Germany, Belgium, United States, Denmark, Canada, India and Malaysia.
Tourism ministry is convinced that this event will attract plenty of overseas tourists to come to Batam.
“Cycling race is a form of sports tourism that has a lot of communities overseas. Their target market is the middle-upper class and has a strong presence in Japan, Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. This will attract foreign tourists to come to Batam,” explained Tourism Ministry's Archipelago Marketing Development deputy, Esthy Reko Astuti.
For Tourism Minister Arief Yahya, Great Batam is one of the three main entrance gates to Indonesia, with the other two, which are Bali and Jakarta.
“Cross-border [area] is a new generator to gain overseas tourists, especially Batam that is only one hour away from Singapore,” said Arief. (asw)
