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Tour de Flores promises challenges, spectacular landscape for cyclists
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Several international cycling races have been developed across the archipelago in a bid to promote tourism. Races include the Tour de Singkarak in West Sumatra (as pictured) and the Tour de Flores in East Nusa Tenggara. (indonesia.travel/-)
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undreds of cyclists arrived at Frans Seda Airport in Maumere on Monday, welcomed to East Nusa Tenggara with a performance of the local Pakpak and Tua Reta Lou traditional dances.
The Pakpak dance is traditionally performed to welcome the winning team home from a war, while Tua Reta Lou is usually presented for youth that are learning to hunt.
The cyclists, 160 competitors from 16 countries, have registered to participate in the Tour de Flores, the first international cycling race event to be held on the island. In a bid to boost tourism in East Nusa Tenggara, the race, slated for May 18 to 23, will take place in five stages along a 743-kilometer track across the region's spectacular landscape, starting from Larantuka to Labuan Bajo.
(Read also: Tour de Flores aims to boost tourism)
“For tourism development purposes, we wanted to establish one event that connected the various regions across Flores, from the east side to Labuan Bajo. This way, when we promote this to the world, our promotion will be about Flores as a whole,” said Sikka regent Yoseph Ansar Rera during a welcoming ceremony at his residence on Monday.
Known for its picturesque tourism, including sights such as Komodo Island, Kelimutu and the underwater garden of Maumere Bay, Flores is home to gorgeous beaches, delightful traditional dance and ikat woven fabric.
Not merely about promoting the landscape, race director Jamaludin Mahmud said that the race had been designed to be challenging.
(Read also: Cultural appeal of the Tour de Singkarak)
“There will be heavy climbs every day. In total, there will be up to 16 mountain challenges,” Jamal said.
“Many of the cyclists participated in the Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen held from May 11 to 14. It was a tough race, but they are still willing to come here despite feeling tired. Why? Because they consider this event to be something different," he added.
Indonesia Prima national team rider Fatahillah Abdullah said that he and his team were excited to join the race.
"Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen was our first race this year and so Flores will be our second. We are excited to showcase how hard we’ve been training," he said. (kes)
