Tonton likely to set pace in cycling Tour

JAKARTA (JP): Senior cyclist Tonton Susanto remains the backbone of the West Java team in the upcoming 2000 Tour de ISSI, to be held from Aug. 31 to Sept. 10.

West Java cycling coach Gatot Senjaya said on Friday that Tonton's rich experience could earn him a yellow jersey in the tournament.

The province has set up three teams to compete in the Tour.

Besides Tonton -- a 2000 National Games gold medalist in the road race who is also skilled in the mountainous track -- the A team also comprises Nunung Burhanudin, Amin Suryana, Mumu, Rediyanto and Nana Rediyana.

The last three cyclists are newcomers to the West Java core team. Team members have undergone tight selection.

"Tonton is more experienced than his five teammates. Without putting down the team, he has a chance to earn the yellow jacket," Gatot told Antara on Friday.

"West Java has sweet memories of Tour de ISSI. We hope Tonton can lead his team to achieve the best," he said.

Gatot said a tough challenge will come from cyclists from East Java and Yogyakarta. He said cyclists from these provinces have shown consistency in their performances.

He said that his team could earn big points in the mountainous track, especially in the last legs in West Java.

Gatot said that the provincial chapter of the Indonesian Cycling Association would train the cyclists at the tour's route at Ciamis and Garut.

"The cyclists' condition is good because they have trained for quite a long time at the training center," he said.

He also said that the organizer would check and repair the track to be used for the Tour.

"We hope that our cyclists won't fail due to any nontechnical factors," he said. (ivy)