Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Indonesia`s national cycling team, which has been prepared for Asian Games 2018, will be tested during Tour de Indonesia (TdI), which will be held from Jan 25 to 28, 2018.

The 755-kilometer-long TdI would start from Borobudur, Central Java, and finish in Denpasar, Bali, Parama Nugraha, organizing committee of TdI 2018, said here on Friday.

Indonesia`s team will have to face strong rivals from Malaysia, South Korea, and Africa.

After being absent for six years, TdI is revived again by The Indonesian Cycling Federation (PB ISSI), following upgrade of its level from 2.2. to 2.1 by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).

About 20 teams are expected to participated in the TdI, of which at least two of them are World Tour teams and the rest from Pro Continental, Continental, and national teams.

Every team will consist of seven cyclists and five officials. The tour`s routes will be divided into four stages, notably Borobudur - Madiun (East Java), Madiun - Prigen (East Java), Probolinggo - Banyuwangi (East Java), and finally Gilimanuk - Denpasar (Bali).

Domestic and foreign teams that have confirmed their participation in the TdI are Emirates Team of the United Arab Emirates; Merida of Bahrain; Asiana Pro Team of Kazakhstan; Sangemini of Italia; Aviludo Louletano of Portugal; Continental Cycling Team of Thailand, PGN Cycling Team, ACC, and KFC Cycling Team of Indonesia.

Meanwhile, Budi Saputra, manager of the national teams of Indonesia, noted that among cyclists to be included in the national training center are Jamal Hibatulloh and Imam Arifin of KFC Cycling Team; Abdul Soleh of BRCC Banyuwangi; Aiman Cahyadi of Sapura Pro Cycling Team; and Malaysia and Robin Manulang of the United Bike Kencana Malang.

The TdI will also promote the 18th Asian Games, which will be co-hosted by Jakarta and Palembang, South Sumatra Province, from Aug 18 to Sept 2, 2018.

reported by Bayu Kuncahyo
(f001/INE)
EDITED BY INE/a014
(T.SYS/A/KR-BSR/A014) 16-12-2017 16:56:40

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Editor: Heru Purwanto
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