Around 100 cyclists are expected to take part in the forthcoming 13th Tour of Malta between 7 and 10 April, the president of the Malta Cycling Association, John Zammit, announced yesterday.
He was speaking at a news conference at the headquarters of the event, the Marina Hotel in Sliema. He said the event will consist of a time-trial on the first day on the circuit between the Splash & Fun Park and the Coastline Hotel in Salina Bay, a race on the San Martin Circuit on 8 April, another at Ta’ Penellu, Mellieha, on Saturday and the final fourth stage which is the classic Sliema-Ghadira-Sliema race.
Thirty of the cyclists will be Maltese from the three local clubs, that is, Pamsons, Mosta Mapei and Qormi. The remaining 70 cyclists come from 12 foreign clubs which include newcomers (for the first time ever) Albania and the Hellenic Cycling Club of Greece.
The others are Milton Keynes, Anglia Sport, Ulster, Callum, BC Central Division and Metropolitan Police, all of England, Charlottenburg of Berlin, Germany and three Sicilian teams, Ballatore, Parisi Ingoglia and Sikania Bike.
Medals – gold, silver and bronze – will be awarded to the men’s and women’s winners of each lap. At the end of the race, the overall first, second and third placed in each category will be presented with a trophy.
There will also be a trophy for the first Maltese overall winners (men and women).
Among those taking part will be last year’s men’s winner Matteo Salute of Ballatore Club, as well as Caterina Bloom of Charlottenburg.
Zammit and the association’s PRO, Anthony Muscat Baron, also said that a Maltese-Australian cyclist, of Maltese origin, 26-year-old David Tracey, is also expected to take part. He is being brought over to make an assessment of his potential in view of his possible participation in the Andorra Small Nations Games.
The top Maltese cyclists are also expected to take part, although the Tour is not open to all.
Later yesterday it was known, however, that top cyclist Roderick Muscat’s participation in the Tour is still uncertain. It is reliably understood he is under investigation after having gone abroad to take part in some events without the required permission.
It is believed that the association is requesting a convincing explanation from the cyclist for the differences to be patched up. Muscat was also expected to be a leading contender for a place in the Malta cycling team for the Andorra Games.
The closing date for applications is 18 March.
At the end of the conference, Zammit presented former MCA president Joe Lanfranco with the ‘Merit Award’. This will become an annual presentation which will be given to a person who would have given sterling services to the sport.