Francelina ‘Anche’ Cabral became the first Timorese woman to win the female category of the Tour de Timor after completing the gruelling five-day mountain bike race on Friday (06/09).
Cabral crossed the finishing line of the 467km race with a time of 25 hours and two minutes, despite injuring her collarbone during the fourth stage of the race.
Before the final stage, Cabral said she hoped just to finish the race considering her injury.
“But when I started I thought, I must do better because this is the last day and I have to put all my energy into it. And I did very well, so I’m very happy about it,” she said at the finishing line in Tasi Tolu.
Malaysian cyclist Shahrin Bin Amir took out first place in the Tour de Timor for the second year in a row, with a time of 18 hours and 15 minutes.
He was closely followed by Australian cyclist Adam Cobain in second place with a time of 18 hours and 33 minutes.
The fastest male Timorese cyclist was Jacinto da Costa finished with a time of 19 hours and six seconds.
Throughout the five-day race thousands of people lined the streets of Dili, Baucau, Viqueque, Manufahi, Ainaro, Aileu, Ermera and Liquica districts to cheer on the 60 people in the race.
While this year was the fifth annual Tour de Timor, it was the first time the Ministry of Tourism organized the race after it was handed over from the President’s office earlier this year.
Only 60 people took part in the race after a group of Timorese cyclists withdrew and protested at the starting line over the lack of government support for national cyclists.
In 2012 more than 300 cyclists took part in the race.
A medical team from the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre in Darwin travelled with the race after Timor-Leste President Taur Matan Ruak requested their support.
Dr Ian Norton, who led the medical team, said the organization of the race went well and there were only a few injuries.
He said if the team were asked to help again next year they would consider downsizing to suit the smaller number of cyclists.
“If it fits within our training schedule and the Timor-Leste government would like us to come back, we’ll come back,” he said.
Adam Cobain, who participated in the Tour de Timor for the first time this year, said he was happy with the outcome of the race.
“I came second overall but I won the stage today and that makes three stages overall, so I’m pretty happy about that,” he said at the finishing line.
He said he was unsure whether he would return for the race next year.
“I think I’ll digest what’s happened and see next year what the course is like, but it’s going to be hard to top some of the mountains we saw yesterday and the previous day.”
