The second Tour de Timor took place in September of this year and again served as a proud achievement for a diminutive Island nation that a decade earlier had been engaged in a bitter war for independence. The race offers competitors a unique view of the rich tapestry that makes up the East Timorese culture.
Hailed as the richest mountain-bike race in the Southern Hemisphere the five-day tour over the mountains of Timor Leste saw 350 hardy riders cover a total of 410 kilometres across concrete and gravel roads in often inconsistent and unsympathetic conditions. Rather than travel east as it did in its inaugural edition, this year the route saw the riders leave the capital, Dili, and head west towards the Indonesian border.
The race was based in the historical town of Balibo for its first night before pushing on to the coastal village of Suai. Day three saw the field weave its way to the beautiful mountainside town of Ainaro. The penultimate evening of the race was spent in Aeliu, a little village close enough to Dili that as a visitor you can sense the proximity of the urban environment.
The President of Timor Leste and Nobel Peace prize winner, Jose Ramos-Horta describes the Tour de Timor as “the toughest mountain bike race in the world, the ride for peace.”
Ramos-Horta quickly recognised the value the Tour de Timor could have in giving the international community a chance to see the magnificence of his country and witness its progression since achieving independence from Indonesia in 2002. Having been a country in turmoil for so long, the nation’s president hopes to change the international outlook on Timor. It is no longer a country in conflict but is instead filled with an overwhelming sense of hope and determination.
For the 288 riders who competed last year and the 350 who competed this year, the idea has been an overwhelming success. Despite the pain and exhaustion of the race, the beauty of the experience had a profound impact upon all the riders. The smiles of the local Timorese people were enough to lift their spirits and the striking views over the unique country filled each rider with the inspiration needed to push themselves to their maximum.
Adding to the the Tour de Timor’s appeal is its democratic registration policy. The race is open to anyone and so it sees all types of riders take up the challenge. Included in the field were pro riders, elderly couples with touring bikes, sponsored national riders, corporate teams raising money for charity, as well as a healthy proportion of bike fanatics who will do anything to be on two wheels rather than two feet.
The differing levels of fitness and experience meant that while some riders were on their bikes for two to three hours others were out on course for eight. The long days on the bike were coupled with tropical heat, altitude and scarce water stops making it a taxing event on competitors. On top of that, at the end of the day the riders would wait in line for food, locate their bags and roll out their sleeping mat wherever they could find a spot – on a vacant basketball court, a muddy field, in a cleared out class room or on a villager’s front porch.
The shared experience of a challenging five days saw the mixed bunch of riders work in teams, both on-and-off their bikes, to make sure everyone made it to the other side. There was sharing of gear, food, bike parts, sleeping space and tents, and the riders, both local and international riders rode together. An unfortunate rider’s bike frame cracked halfway through the first day but in a demonstration of the solidarity inspired by the race a local rider and a number of local villagers helped him out by constructing a makeshift brace out of bamboo and string so that he could roll his way on to Balibo.
This year Mountain Bike World Orienteering Champion Adrian Jackson came in to win the 2010 Tour de Timor, just 29 seconds ahead of Steele von Hoff, who bears scars from a number of crashes during in Tour de Timor in 2009. For his win, Jackson walked away from the race with a very tidy prize of US$15,000. Last year’s winner Neil Van Der Ploeg and his Felt teammates (Steele von Hoff, Scott Liston and Daniel McConnell) finished up first in the team rankings. “Pink Jersey” Rowena Fry was the first woman over the line and came in 15th overall.
In a positive sign for the race, next year’s race will see organizers add another day to the race schedule for some extra fun. And if Jose Ramos-Horta words are any indication, next year’s participants will again be warmly welcomed, “Riders will experience a new route, new villages and new initiatives. I am delighted to invite riders both new and returning to experience the world’s toughest bike race in Asia’s newest nation.”