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Athletes from 6 teams to vie in bike race in Jakarta

Xinhua, July 26, 2016 Adjust font size:

Racers from six teams are to compete in a bike race in Indonesia's capital of Jakarta on Saturday, a senior official of tourism ministry said here on Tuesday.

The athletes from Indonesia, Malaysia, Chinese Taipei, the Philippines, Laos and Singapore, will vie the first international bike race in the city so called International Cycling Race Tour de Jakarta 2016, Raseno Arya, senior official at the ministry said.

Twenty Indonesian and overseas teams have registered their participation on the 175.5-kilometer race, the official said.

The event comprises of 3 categories, namely single competition, group competition, and intermediate sprint.

The Indonesian government expects the international event to help boost tourism in the country's capital, said Arya.

"This tour combines tourism and sport. This is one of ways to lure more foreign holiday makers to visit Jakarta as many international teams will take part in the event. Besides, it also aims to prove that Jakarta is safe," he told a press conference at Demang Café here.

Jakarta had been hit by a series of suicide bombings since 2000, including the recent one on January 24 that killed 8 people and injuries 26 others.

For Indonesian racers, the Tour de Jakarta 2016 will be a warm-up event for the next much tougher bike race so called Tour de Singkarak, in West Sumatra from August 6 to 14. Endit