President José Ramos-Horta
This week I’ve been emailing the consulate regarding an interview with Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, the public face of the Tour de Timor. I sent off the official request last week – it’s looking hopeful I can get some time to interview the co-recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize and a former Prime Minister – fingers crossed!
The race later this month is called the Tour de Timor. Mountain Bikers from all over the world will descend upon Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, on 23-08-09 to race their bikes 450 km through beautiful remote coastal villages and high mountain passes over four days. President José Ramos-Horta himself is the public face of the race through the worlds newest nation. The president is holding the race to help promote world peace and he hopes the event will put Timor-Leste on the map for future international sporting events.
The most challenging day of the race is day 4, with a near 2000m climb over the spine of the country, before a bone shattering downhill to the mountain retreat of Maubisse, under the careful watch of the soaring Mount Ramelau.
There will be lots of festivities throughout the week with the President himself advocating the use of their “unchartered performance enhancing qualities” found in their local coffee.
I’ll be racing and reporting on the event for Australian Mountain Bike magazine as well as covering a feature on the Australian Aid International cycling team, focusing on their riders and their humanitarian efforts to date in Timor-Leste.
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on Monday, August 10th, 2009 at 11:28 and is filed under Bikes, Timor Leste.
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