Tour de Molvccas To Attract 140 Cyclists From 25 Countries

Ambon, Maluku, Aug 22 (Antara) - Some 140 cyclists from 25 countries are expected to participate in the international cycling and tourism event called Tour de Molvccas (TdM) scheduled on September 18-22, 2017, on Ambon and Seram Islands, Maluku Province.
A survey team had completed the mapping of the tour`s 787-kilometer (km)-long route comprising fives stages, Habiba Saimima, executive chairperson of the TdM organizing committee, stated here, Tuesday.
The first stage stretching 187 km of the sports tourism event, referred to as "Hidden Paradise Awaits You," will start from Piru Town, Western Seram (SBB) District, and end in Masohi Town, Central Maluku.
"The cyclists would take three hours to cover the 187-km-long first stage from Piru Town to Masohi ," Maluku Governor Said Assagaff informed the press recently.
On Sept 19, the participants will depart from Masohi to Wahai Village, also in Central Maluku District.
The second stage will start from Saleman-Wahai to Bula Town, Eastern Seram District (SBT).
The cyclists are expected to cover the about 220-km distance between Wahai and Bula within four hours.
The third stage will be from Bula to Wahai Airport. Participants will depart from Masho and stay overnight in the town. The fourth stage will be from Masho to the Waipirit ferry port in SBB.
The fifth stage is from Waipirit to Ambon City. The cyclists will go around the city seven times, from Namalatu Beach to a finish line on Merah Putih Bridge.
Assagaff is optimistic that the TdM would help boost the tourism industry in his country, as the participants will be able to enjoy the natural scenery and enjoy the local traditions and culture during the event.
"The participants will make a stopover at every tourist attraction in every stage, including those in SBB, Central Maluku, SBT, and Ambon City," he said.
The participants will be part of 16 teams, comprising 12 foreign teams and four national teams.
The event is supervised and supported by Union Cycliste Internationale and the Indonesian Cyclists` Association.
The Molvcass Jazz Festival will be organized at the Merdeka Square on Sept 18-22 to highlight the sporting event.
On Sept 17, the Maluku administration will organize a cycling event in Ambon that will cover a distance of 40 km.