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Dili. Some 280 cyclists from around the world pedaled out of East Timor’s presidential palace on Monday on the first leg of the inaugural Tour de Timor.

The five-day race is a highlight of festivities surrounding the 10th anniversary of East Timor’s vote for independence from Indonesia.

Riders from about 10 countries, including 25 from East Timor, are competing in the 350-kilometer tour, which promises to be one of the toughest in the world. With a prize purse of $75,000, it is the biggest sporting event ever hosted by East Timor.

“The weather is perfect — very low humidity — and when you get to the hills it’s cooler, so I think it will be a very pleasant ride for you,” President Jose Ramos-Horta told the competitors.

Through nine districts, the cyclists will face rock-strewn dirt roads, dry river beds, forested highlands and finally a descent through rice paddies and coffee plantations back to Dili.

Australian Cameron Darragh said the biggest test would come on Day 4, when riders climb almost 2,000 meters from the south coast to Maubisse in Ainaro district.

“I think people will be tired. There’s a lot of climbing and the hills here are pretty unique,” he said.

Canadian Sarah Brown was traveling in Australia when she heard about the tour and decided she couldn’t miss it.

“It just sounded like an amazing event to partake in for world peace and seeing the country, and it’s a way to get in with the culture,” Brown said.

“The biggest challenge is going to be the hills and probably the heat,” she added.

On Aug. 30, 1999, East Timorese overwhelmingly voted in a referendum on independence to split from Indonesia, ending a 24-year occupation.

“It’s a special kind of occasion, the first race, 10 years on from when East Timor made its path toward independence,” Darragh said.

Agence France-Presse