JAKARTA, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's West Sumatra province was scheduled to resume international cycling competition of Tour de Singkarak (TdS) from Nov. 4 to 11, to be participated by 15 teams from 26 countries and regions.
The international cycling event sanctioned by world's governing body for cycling sports, Union Cyclist Internationale (UCI), would pass through 16 municipalities and regencies in the province with total route of 1,267 kilometers, divided into eight phases and provides total rewards of 2.3 billion rupiah (151,140 US dollars) for the successful cyclists.
"It would be the 10th of TdS held in the province. Within a decade, the TdS cycling event has became one of the world's prestigious sport tourism event," Indonesia Tourism Minister Arief Yahya said to address the cycling event launching here on Monday.
The TdS has now ranked among world's best five of the kind after Tour de France, Giro deltalia, Vuelta a Espana and Santos Down Under, according to the minister.
He said the cycling event in the province would give direct positive economy impacts to the people, promoting the provincial tourism sector as the route would pass through landmark tourism spots across the province among others Lake Singkarak, Kelok 9, Pagaruyung Palace and Padang Beach.
