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Tour de Indonesia: Cyclists race across Java, bringing Ngawi to world stage
Regent Budi Sulistyono welcomed the opportunity for Ngawi to host an international event, saying it could unlock opportunities in trade and tourism. He said it was the regency’s second year partnering with the race organizer.
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Team effort: Cyclists race across the Kertosono Bridge in Nganjuk, East Java, as they complete the second stage of 2019 Tour de Indonesia road race on Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2019. Stage two of the race stretched 163.4 kilometers from Madiun to Kota Batu in East Java. (Antara/Prasetia Fauzani)
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undreds of residents of Ngawi, East Java, unfazed by the scorching 34 degree Celsius heat, flocked to the town square on Monday to wait by the roadside to watch the 2019 Tour de Indonesia cyclists cross the stage one finish line.
Each cyclist was met by applause and cheers as they crossed the finish line after cycling 182.7 kilometers from Borobudur temple in Magelang, Central Java. The event was made livelier by a cultural festival, with students dressing in traditional attire and staging a parade with decorated bikes.
Regent Budi Sulistyono welcomed the opportunity for Ngawi to host an international event, saying it could unlock opportunities in trade and tourism. He said it was the regency’s second year partnering with the race organizer.
“Ngawi has gained in popularity as more people now pay attention to our regency. We should treat this as a moment to improve our hospitality and tourism,” he said.
Budi said the race had created business opportunities, adding that he had asked Indonesia Cycling Federation (ICF) chief Raja Sapta ‘Okto’ Oktohari to bring investors to build hotels in Ngawi.
At present, there are only a few two-star hotels in the regency.
The enthusiasm of Ngawi residents also caught the attention of World Cycling Center director Frédéric Magne, who came to the event as a representative of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
