Race Route
The 2010 Tour de Timor course will take riders to new frontiers. Famed for its smooth seaside rides, gruelling climbs, spectacular mountain views and unprecedented crowd support, riders will be treated to a rare and special insight into Timor’s unique geography, environment, people and culture.
The Course this year will travel West from Dili along the scenic coastline, past old Portuguese forts, stopping the first night in the historic town of Balibo. The place is steeped in the Australian and Timorese consciousness , and was the subject of the gripping drama, Balibo, released in 2009. It will then journey through the farm plains of Maliana, the lush valleys of Ermera coffee country. Days 2 and 4 will see riders wind their way through the mountainous areas of Ainaro and Maubisse where you can take in stunning views of rugged mountains and misty valleys.
This year expect more exciting mountain-biking trails, new sights and sounds.
Tour de Timor Route Map
Stages for this year’s Tour de Timor will range between 55km and 125km per day. Following a final course reconnaissance in recent weeks, details of each stage have now been confirmed.
Click here to view the 2010 Tour de Timor Route Map
Monday 13 September, Stage 1, Dili to Balibo, 124kms
Tuesday 14 September, Stage 2, Balibo to Suai, 95kms
Wednesday 15 September, Stage 3, Suai to Ainaro, 67kms
Thursday 16 September, Stage 4, Ainaro to Aileu, 68kms
Friday 17 September, Stage 5, Aileu to Dili, 56kms
Total = 410kms
View 2010 Tour de Timor – Route Map in a larger map
Stage Maps on www.mapmyride.com
Individual stage maps can be viewed on the links below
Click to view Stage 1 map
Click to view Stage 2 map
Click to view Stage 3 map
Click to view Stage 4 map
Click to view Stage 5 map
Course Profile
View the combined Course Profile for all five stages.
Or click here for pdf version.
Road Condition
Roads across Timor-Leste vary from smooth modern bitumen roads, gravel mixes to dirt and mountain bike tracks. Roads from the capital and along the coast are general wide and flat, rising to meandering mountain roads as the course winds its way around the country’s mountainous spine. Beware of the odd spectacular pothole!
Mountain bikes are a must for this race!
Crowd support
In 2009 hundreds of thousands of Timorese lined the streets all along the course (even the more remote areas) to observe and cheer the riders along. You will no doubt meet many fascinated spectators, many of whom will have never seen a bike race before!
Links
Balibo – The Movie: Find out more about this award-winning drama starring Anthony LaPaglia and produced by Robert Connolly. http://www.balibo.com/
The Balibo House and Trust Read about the famous building that was the last refuge of the journalists, and how the Victorian Government is building a positive legacy as a community learning centre. balibohouse.com
