BALI, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's resort island Bali will host an event of the international cycling marathon series Gran Fondo New York (GFNY) on Sunday, with at least 1,500 cyclists the world, an organizer said here on Saturday.
The event will provide competitive and recreational routes for professional and amateur riders as well, passing through Bali's exotic tourism spots with start and finish lines in Bali's bustling spot of Sanur, some 30 minutes drive from Bali capital Denpasar.
The competitive route, or the Gran Fondo race, is designated for professional cyclists that takes 142 kilometers of distance. Meanwhile the organizers set an 80km track for the recreational route.
The route of Gran Fondo race offers a tropical experience, comprising coastal and hilly tracks including a 1350m ascent to the crater ring of Bali's Batur volcano with Lake Batur besides the track.
In total, all routes in GFNY Bali would pass through Bali's four regencies of Sanur, Gianyar, Klungkung and Bangli.
"With the current one in Bali, it would make Indonesia hosting the GNFY three times. We chose Bali because the island is very fascinating for the race, has good and safe tracks along the routes," said Axel Moeller, the GFNY Bali co-organizer.
The previous two GFNY events were held in Bali's neighboring island of Lombok in 2016 and 2017 respectively. The one in Lombok in 2016 was the first for GFNY event held in Asia.
Moeller said that Indonesia's Samosir island in North Sumatra province's Lake Toba would host another GFNY series in September this year.
Moeller added that the top 10 percent of cyclists in all age groups would be qualified for a front corral start at the GFNY World Championship in New York City on May 20, 2018.
GFNY Bali would kick start GFNY global cycling marathon series for this year with the following hosts were in Uruguay, Costa Rica, Brazil, Germany, Portugal, Panama, among others.
Bali province authorities warmly welcomed the conduction of GFNY in the island as it would help further recover the arrivals of foreign tourists into the island mostly favored by international tourists.
Tourism in the island was severely hampered by the ensuing volcano eruption event that began since last September.
Indonesian authorities have yet to downgrade highest alert status now slapped against Mount Agung volcano, but it has shrank the dangerous areas from the previous 10 kilometers to 6 kilometers from the volcano's summit. No significant volcanic activity was seen in the volcano in the last several months so far.
