Vive la Tour

Ask any Timorese: “What is the Tour” and they will answer, “It’s a bike race.”  They might even go so far as to suggest the race route comprises many mountains and only the fittest and the toughest can complete the gruelling six-day event.  And here cycling aficionados might pause and wonder if the Tour de France (or Franch in Timorese ;-) has been scaled back.  Fear not cycling enthusiasts, the tour of which I speak is the Tour de Timor, a mountain bike race taking in some of Timor’s most scenic – and rugged terrain.

Mention the Tour to Malae at your peril, particularly if you’re uttering words like, “I’m thinking of doing . . .” along with the words, “the Tour.”  I did so and was, in very short order, lent a bike for a month and had multiple offers of people willing to transport vehicles from all corners of Australia.  I quit my Pilates class so I could ride on Saturday mornings and rather than lament the loss of income, my instructor applauded my endeavour and one of the other students swore she’d be on the sidelines cheering me on.

It’s not just me though; an American friend of mine has had the same experience.  She mentioned the word “Tour” in conjunction with “I’d like to do” and again was furnished not only with a bike for a month but with a trainer as well! 

It’s one of the most beautiful things about Timor.  The circles of friendship are ever overlapping and if someone knows someone that can help you they are quick to whip out their mobile phone and pass along the number. 

And so the training begins . . . or has already begun.  Cycling logs are being kept.  Banana smoothies are being blended at ridiculously early hours of the morning.  Bottles of water and Mizone are being bought by the carton. 

Vive la tour . . . and may we fledgling participants also live long enough to not only make it to the starting line each morning, and, the cycling gods willing, not onto the slowpokes truck each night, but over the finish line after six fun-filled, sun-filled days of cycling camaraderie and bonhomie (and given the last point is probably wishful thinking may there be an army of qualified masseurs just on the other side of the tape to ease away the aches and pains).