Magelang, Central Java (ANTARA) - The UCI category 2.1 international cycling race of Tour d'Indonesia (TdI) kicked off from Borobudur Temple, Magelang, Central Java Province, on Monday, with 18 domestic and foreign participating teams.

The first stage began from Borobudur Temple and will conclude in Ngawi, East Java Province, Parama Nugroho, chairman of the Bank BRI Tour d’Indonesia, remarked here on Monday.

The 18 teams comprise 90 cyclists from 22 countries including France, Greek, Spain, and England.

Of the 18 teams, the four Indonesian teams are Indonesia's National Team, PGN Road Cycling Team, Custom Cycling Indonesia (CCI), and KFC Cycling Team.

"We have made comprehensive preparations and are content that all regional heads, whose cities fall on the race's route, fully support the event," he stated.

The five stages of TdI 2019 are Candi Borobudur-Ngawi, stretching 178 kilometers (km); Madiun-Batu, 157.7 km; Batu-Jember, 195.9 km; Jember-Banyuwangi, 150km; and Gilimanuk-Batur UNESCO Global Geopark, 143.6km.

The competing teams are Felipe and Galedro from 7 Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines, Setra and Fadli from the Customs Cycling Team, Nateghi and Ganjkhanlou from the Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan, Fung and Ho from the HKSI Pro Cycling Team, Gani and Ali Sahbana from the KFC Cycling Team, Garcia and Lebas from the Kinan Cycling Team, Park and Kim from the KSPO Bianchi Asia Procycling, Davids and Lyons from Oliver's Real Food, Cahyadi and Novardianto from the PGN Road Cycling Team, Butler and Van Heerden from ProTouch, Berwick and Cavanagh from St George Continental Cycling Team, Kolahdozhagh and Looij from the Taijuan Miogee Cycling Team, Dyball and Vogt from the Sapura Cycling Team, Eyob and Batmunkh from the Terengganu Cycling Team, Roth and Elliott from X-Speed Untied, Fitrianto and Waseso from Indonesia's National Team, Mirza and Al Mansoori from the United Arab Emirates Team, and Phounsavath and Chawchiangkwang from the Thailand Continental Cycling Team.

Translator: Dadan Ramdani, Fardah
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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