JAKARTA, Jan. 25 (Xinhua) -- A total of 15 cycling teams from 19 countries and regions started the Tour de Indonesia on Thursday.
The start took place in the Prambanan Temple in Yogyakarta province.
The tour consists of four stages and will finish in Denpasar, the provincial capital of Bali on January 28.
There are 94 cyclists competing in the event including 29 from Indonesia, according to Ferinanto, the coach of the Indonesian team.
The coach was optimistic that Indonesian cyclists could compete with foreign opponents, saying there is a big chance of an Indonesian cyclist winning the first stage.
"Hopefully our cyclists could make a new record and win the stage from Yogyakarta to Ngawi," he said referring to the first stage.
Ferinanto says many Indonesian cyclists are particularly good at sprinting.
Riders from the United States, China, Australia and Kazakhstan have also entered the event.
