Jakarta (Antaranews Sulteng) - After successfully holding the international Tour de Central Celebes (TdCC) tourism sport event for the first time last year, the Central Sulawesi Provincial Government is now gearing up for the second episode, called TdCC-II from October 17 to 22, 2018.
The most important thing ahead of this year's TdCC II is the participation of local communities to maintain the security of their respective environments, as well as hospitality for the success of the second episode of this international bicycle tour.
Hence the TdCC II organizing committee requires the support of the entire community, especially those along the path that will be passed by the international bicycle racing participants.
Central Sulawesi Communication and Informatics Service Chief Moh. Nizam remarked that the important thing that is highly expected from the local community is to maintain the cleanliness and safety of each environment.
This international bicycle race is a momentum to sell the beauty, cleanliness, safety and hospitality of local residents to TdCC II participants from a number of countries in the world.
A total of 125 national and international riders will certainly enliven the international cycling event of the Tour de Central Celebes II this year.
TDCC II Race Director Dr Hasan remarked in Palu recently that the number of participants has increased significantly as compared to that in TdCC 2017.
Now, 20 overseas teams from 21 countries and five national teams have registered. This number is final, and it will not be increased anymore, according to Hasan.
He explained that each team will send five riders and three companions.
During a technical explanation on the implementation of the TdCC II to the participants of the committee meeting in the field of communication and publication, Hasan noted that TdCC II will be quite popular with world riders, as it has been registered in the Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI).
In addition, the available bonus value prepared for outstanding riders is increasingly attractive.
Originally, TdCC II was set to accommodate only 20 teams, but the governor of Central Sulawesi gave approval to increase to 25 teams, of which five teams are from within the country since there are several world teams registering.
Australia, Mongolia, Malaysia, Canada, the Philippines, Iran, Belgium, Thailand, Poland, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, China, Columbia, France, and the United States will send their teams to the TdCC II.
The national teams that have been recorded are PGN, ACC, KFC, BRCC/UBK, and the Primary Indonesia national team.
Based on the results of the latest survey by the technical team from UCI, PB ISSI, and the TdCC committee, the total length of the route is 760 kilometers.
If we read the figure 7 as Ja and 60 as Go, then the 760-km route of the TdCC II this time is read "Rute Jago, or Great Route," according to Hasan.
He said the route deserves to be called "Jago," as all segments require dexterity, agility, precision, courage, and accurate strategies from all teams to be the best.
This route extends from Luwuk City, Banggai Regency, to Palu City by crossing Tojo Unauna, Poso, Parigi Moutong, Sigi, and Donggala districts, and is divided into five stages, where all the starting and finishing points are leading to tourist locations in each region.
In the five stages, five points have been established as "King of Mountain" (KoM) points where the riders will compete in strength and endurance, while 15 other points for sprinters or speed riders.
With so many KOM points and sprint points, the opportunity for riders to win bonuses is far greater than in the TdCC 2017.
"In the 2018 TdCC, the riders will compete for the bonus, with a total value of Rp1.2 billion, more than double the TdCC 2017, which was only Rp580 million," Hasan noted at the meeting attended by Head of the Central Sulawesi Communication and Information Office Muh Nizam, Head of Tourism Office I Nyoman Sariadijaya, and Chairman of the TdCC Committee Secretariat Muchsin Pakaya.
The organizing committee of the Second Tour de Central Celebes (TdCC) had decided to extend the route from 740 kilometers (km) to 748 km following a change in the Parigi-Sigi stage.
In this fourth stage, the finish line will be moved from Bora circle to the old district office in Biromaru town, due to security reasons and expected crowd.
A circle is not safe for races competing to reach the finish line. Hence, the finish line is moved from Bora to Biromaru.
At least 26 cycling clubs, comprising 21 foreign and five domestic clubs, will participate in the TdCC II to be held on October 14-18, 2018.
The route comprises five stages: stage I: Luwuk-Ampana covering 133 km; stage II : Ampana-Poso, 163.1 km; stage III: Tentena (Poso)-Parigi, 204.5 km; stage IV: Parigi-Sigi, 119.7 km; and stage V: Watatu (Donggala)-Palu City, 127.7 km.
