Tour Of Kemala Belitong 2022, Successfully Rise The Spirit Of Local MSMEs By Bike Racing

Photo: Doc. Tour of Kemala Belitong 2022

JAKARTA - "Tour of Kemala Belitong 2022" which was held in collaboration with the Executive Board of the Indonesian Sports Bike Association (PB ISSI), on the second day of Sunday, September 18, contested Touring with a distance of 56 km. Coming out as the first winner Marco Salvador Lumanong (29) from the Philippines for the category of Men of Elite and entitled to a prize of IDR 7.5 million.

Marco said the road tracks in Belitung were full of descent and incline, so he had a bit of difficulty pedaling a bicycle to fight through the finish line. Marco admits, Belitung has its own charm, with beautiful and eye-satisfactory views.

"I will invite friends from the Philippines if an event like this is held again," he said.

The Tour of Kemala Belitong 2022 will be held for two consecutive days, Saturday-Sunday (17-18 September 2022), followed by hundreds of national and international racers. The first start starts with the About Black Rocks Belitung Coffee, Tanjung Tinggi, Belitung, the same as the Bicycle Race 125 km category which was held last Saturday 17 September.

The track that participants pass in pedaling their bicycles passes through the decreasing streets and some inclines, with very challenging road contours. While walking down the track on this beach, participants are treated with an interesting and beautiful view. In addition to its coastal cluster, the Belitung Islands has unique rocks so that UNESCO is designated as a global geopark.

According to Winy Agung Budi Maryoto, Chair of the 2022 Tour of Kemala Belitong Committee, the assessment of the winners follows international standards and has been registered with UCI so that the athletes who participate can get points. The total prizes that are contested are Rp. 118 million for the category of cycling racing with a distance of 56 km.

Not only bicycle racing to look for the seeds of national athletes displayed in this grand event, but also as an event to promote the natural beauty of Indonesia as well as to revive the economic activities of local MSME actors. Dozens of MSME actors were also present by opening a stand by marketing products.

From products in the form of batik, cendramata is the hallmark of Belitung, to various Belitung native foods. The turnover of hundreds of millions of money can be infiltrated by Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

Winnery also feels grateful because this event was successful and has a positive impact on tourism and arouses the passion of local MSMEs. The Tour of Kemala, which carries the tagline Synergy for the Country, has become a new inspiration and innovation in promoting the natural beauty of Indonesia and the rise of the local economy.

"We are collaborating with the local community to improve the local economy. So, this event can raise our spirits again after falling in a pandemic," said Winty with Juliati Sigit Prabowo, wife of National Police Chief Listyo Sigit Prabowo.

Winly explained that Belitung was chosen as a Tour of Kemala destination because it was to support the recovery of the Belitung Tourism Economy.

"The Belitung community and local MSME players are the main figures promoted in the Tour of Kemala. This activity aims to attract the eyes of Indonesia and the world to Belitung, with extraordinary tourism potential and superior local MSME products," he explained.

In the future, the Tour of Kemala is scheduled to be an annual event for PB ISSI support. After Belitung, the Tour of Kemala will also visit other areas such as Manado, Pontianak, Lombok, and so on. The hope is that the 2022 Tour of Kemala can bring layered and multi-sectoral benefits to the surrounding community. Therefore, the Tour of Kemala is registered with the parent organization of international cycling UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale), as part of the UCI Grandfondo.

Secretary General of PB ISSI, Parama Nugroho said, the Tour of Kemala aims to increase love for cycling and look for superior seeds of national bicycle athletes through the race category.

"This is a place to measure athletes well, to finish a really struggle for athletes. It can be said that this is a kind of try out for athletes before entering the national cycling championship," he said.

Previously, in the Bicycle Race 125 km category, there were several sub categories, namely, Men Elite for ages 19 years and over won by Angga Dwi Wahyu Prahesta with a travel time of 2 hours 58 minutes for a distance of 125 KM and second winner Berley Octavian Nugroho, who narrowly lost to Angga.