JAKARTA, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Cyclists grouped in 18 teams will compete in the Tour de Lombok in West Nusa Tenggara province, central Indonesia this month, the association announced here on Wednesday.

The teams are from 18 countries and regions including China, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Australia, Kazakthan and others, said a representative of the Indonesian cyclist association.

Head of the provincial tourism office Lalu Mohammad Faozal said that the tour was launched on Sunday and has three stages, passing through several beautiful tourism destinations.

"We have prepared the destinations which will be passed by the cyclists," he said in a statement.

The international tour has a license from the Union Cycliste International (UCI), Lalu added.