Cool air and mist descending the hillsides greeted the Tour de Entete racers in Bajawa, Ngada Regency, Flores, on Friday (September 19, 2025). They completed the 133-kilometer eighth stage after starting from Pancasila Field in Ende.
After days of heat on the islands of Timor and Sumba, the racers entered cooler climates and tackled the mountainous stages of Flores. On this island, the group faced four stages before finishing in Labuhan Bajo.
Stage eight featured 68 riders from 12 countries. Eleven other riders were unable to participate due to various reasons, such as damaged bikes or injuries.
The group toured the town of Ende before starting the eight-kilometer realstrat. The smooth asphalt road wound along the hillside to the right and the beautiful coastline of Ende Bay to the left.
The road began to twist sharply, climbing gently and descending after Boawae. Here, eleven riders tried to break away from the pack. Leading the pack was John Patrick Sarmiento of 7Eleven Philippines, followed by his teammates, Josep Baban Javiniar and Muhammad Abdurrohman of JPC.
Initially, the three riders were only 28 seconds behind the group. However, by kilometer 30 after Nangapanda, they had already trailed the group by three minutes.
As they entered the Rajah area, the road began to climb steeply, and the group split into several smaller groups. The three leading riders, followed by eleven riders, tried to catch up, while a larger group of approximately 25 riders raced a minute behind.
By the Mataloko area, 20 kilometers from the finish, the gap between the riders and the group had reached four minutes. The group struggled to catch up, although they managed to narrow the gap to 2.21 minutes. The three leading riders were followed by nine riders, including green jersey holder Lois Buffin and yellow jersey Komodo dragon Kenny Cornelis (Universe).
This stage featured two UCI Category 1 climbs (King of the Mountain/KOM) at KM 50 after Rate Rua Village and KM 117 after Wolowea Village. The competition in these two categories was fierce, and Josep (7Eleven) emerged victorious.
KOM shifted
By winning these two KOMs, Josep immediately earned 20 points. With the five points he had already accumulated, he earned a total of 25 points, securing the King of the Mountains (Pokadot Jersey) title, which had been held by Muhammad Herlangga of Nusantara BYC in the previous six stages.
A thrilling battle also ensued between Komodo’s yellow jersey holder, Kenny Cornelis, and Lois Buffin. In this stage, Lois secured the title of fastest rider with a time of 26 hours, 19 minutes, and 41 seconds.
Lois hopes to maintain her achievements. She said she was pleased with the friendly support from the community, who offered encouragement on every track she crossed.
“This eighth stage was very enjoyable, with beautiful coastal views and mountain climbs. The weather was also very conducive, allowing her to maintain her rhythm and finish in the top position,” she said.
Meanwhile, the title of best Indonesian racer remains with Muhammad Raihan Maulidan (PWR), and the best young racer remains Muhammad Syelhan Nurrahmat (Garuda Development).
The 19-year-old Syelhan said the uphill terrain was relatively challenging. He and his team strived to maintain their rhythm to maintain their results.
According to Syelhan, the team is still aiming for the Komodo dragon’s yellow jersey. However, with two stages remaining and the recorded times, it’s difficult to achieve that target.
“We’re just trying to maintain our podium finish and defend our title,” said the national team rider.
Syelhan considers the Tour de Entete route to be a good training ground for his team in preparation for the SEA Games. Although the gradient and length of the route are still considered insufficient for a climber like himself, the terrain is very challenging.
As they entered Mataloko, mist began to descend on the hillsides. Residents lined the streets of Bajawa, a city renowned for its superior coffee production in Flores. At Kartini Field, the racers were greeted by Ngada Regent Raymundus Bena and members of the Ngada Regional Leadership Communication Forum (Forkopimda).
Hundreds of students performed a mass Jain dance to welcome the group of racers. Several racers enthusiastically joined in the dance with the students.
Madar team rider Youcef Reguigui, who won the green jersey, said that no one could guarantee who would retain the green jersey until this stage.
“I’m just trying to enjoy every moment of this race,” said Youcef, who also loves coffee. He also admitted he can’t wait to hunt for Bajawa coffee.
John, who won the climb, said the title was hard-earned from two KOM points that day.
“The climb was tough, but it started raining as we climbed to the KOM, so we had a good ride. I also appreciate the smooth road conditions throughout the course today. It made the race easier,” he said.
There are two stages remaining before the finish in Labuhan Bajo. Stage nine, a 139.6-kilometer journey from Bajawa to Ruteng, will see riders face challenging mountainous terrain. This stage features an intermediate sprint and a challenging KOM climb in the HC (Hors Category) category at kilometer 112. (*)
