The preparations have reached some 85 percent completion, Elvy Basri, head of the Solok tourism office, stated here, Wednesday.
"To welcome TdS, we are repairing the damaged roads and sidewalks as well as other public facilities," she noted.
Preparations have been made through cooperation among relevant ministries, including the public works and public housing ministry and the transportation ministry as well as hotel owners and travel agents.
The Solok municipality will host the sixth stage of TdS on November 6, 2018, with the start from the Merdeka square, Solok, and finish at the Payakumbuh municipality.
A day prior to the race, Solok will hold a city tour event for the participants of TdS. The city tour will take them to Laing Park, Pulai Belibis, Syekh Kukut Park, Solok rice fields, and Solok Water Park, among other areas.
Traditional dances and culinary arts of Solok will also be showcased to the TdS participants.
Deputy Mayor of Solok Reinier lauded the nearly completed preparations and expressed hope that TdS would help promote Solok`s tourist attractions, nationally and internationally.
The 2018 TdS route will be organized in West Sumatra on Nov 4-11 and cover 16 districts and cities.
At least 20 cycling teams from various countries will participate in the 2018 TdS, with total prizes worth Rp2.3 billion on offer.
Inspired by the 200-year-old Tour de France, the TdS was first organized as part of the recovery program following a powerful earthquake that had devastated West Sumatra in 2009 in a bid to boost the tourism industry through a sport-based promotional activity.
The world-class TdS event takes renowned international cyclists on an exciting tour across the picturesque West Sumatra countryside`s scenic landscapes comprising beaches, blue lakes, and numerous hairpin bends, as they climb up to the foot of the volcanoes.
Its race track this year is extended to 1,267 kilometers (km), from 1,250 km in the previous year.
Reporting by Mario Sofia Nasution
Editing by Fardah, Andi Abdussalam
Reporter: Antara
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
Copyright © ANTARA 2018
