TEMPO.CO, Padang - International cycling competition Tour de Singkarak sees hazy Stage 1 as a number or regions in West Sumatra are still shrouded by smog from the neighboring provinces.
“The wind comes from South Sumatra. Because the wind blows from the south to the southeast, the smog passes here (West Sumatra),” Yayan Surya, Head of Minangkabau Airport Meteorology, Geophysics and Climatology Agency (BMKG) in a press conference for Tour de Singkarak on Friday, October 2.
Light to high intensity rain are expected to fall on a number of regions in West Sumatra. However, Yayan said, this will not have too much effect.
“The haze will be gone if there is heavy rain fall in Jambi and South Sumatra,” he added.
As many as 24 teams from 36 countries are participating in Tour de Singkarak that is being held from October 3 to 11. The competition features nine stages through 18 regencies in West Sumatra.
Race Director of 2015 Tour de Singkarak, Sondi Sampurno, said the organizer will continue to take data from BMKG into consideration for each stage.
“The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is the one who decide whether the competition will be continued or not,” Sondi said on Friday, October 2.
“There is no addition of stages. If a stage is canceled, we will skip to the next stage.”
Participants are having their 163-km first stage of Tour de Singkarak today from Carocok Beach to Gondoria Beach in Pariaman.
ANDRI EL FARUQI
