LINTANG Flores, event an unsupported bicycle trip offering a 1,000 km route from Labuan Bajo to Maumere, and back to Labuan Bajo, was successfully held on March 25-29.
Lintang Flores is the second event sponsored by Ta’aktana Resort & Spa with the aim of developing sports tourism potential on Flores Island, following the successful holding of the Labuan Bajo Swim & Run in 2022 which was attended by athletes holding national records in swimming and triathlon such as Fadlan , Kania Atmaja, and Inge Prasetyo.
In the first edition of this event, participants, whether they chose to cycle solo or in pairs, had their physical and mental toughness tested when faced with a winding road of 1,000 km with asphalt, gravel and sand surfaces; climb with a total elevation of 19,000 meters above sea level. Participants also have to endure the hot sun alternating with rain throughout the journey, to reach the finish line within the 100 hour time limit.
Boru Mccullagh, an ultra cyclist from England who managed to make history as the first finisher at Lintang Flores with a total travel time of 70 hours, said that he was very impressed with the beauty of the mountainous terrain and the friendliness of the people of Flores that he met along the way.
“All day long I heard greetings and saw smiles from the people I met, many foreigners accompanied me even in the rain and at night, some motorbikes and truck drivers even provided additional lighting for hours to ensure I might drive safely” he said.
“I am also interested in participating in Lintang Flores because of the support this event provides for the local community here. “Part of the income from the competition was donated to the Stunting Prevention Community for Maumere Children,” continued Boru.
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The second and third finishing positions in the first edition of Lintang Flores were achieved by Bambang ‘Bembenx’ Anggoro Jati and Citra Dewi Saraswati.
Lintang Flores Race Director, Tirfan Putera, expressed his gratitude for holding the entire series of Lintang Flores events relatively smoothly and safely.
“Lintang Flores is a rare opportunity for Ultra Cyclists to carry out their hobby, by challenging the limits of their abilities while enjoying the exotic natural landscape of Flores Island and interacting with the people of Flores. “We hope that this event can continue every year and attract more ultra cyclists from within the country and abroad,” said Tirfan.
“We also hope that the successful implementation of Lintang Flores can motivate all parties to continue developing the sports tourism agenda on Flores Island, so that it attracts more tourists, provides economic benefits for the local community, and makes Flores Island a new pillar and iconic sports tourism destination in Indonesia,” he concluded. (S-1)
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