The 13th Tour of Malta gets under way today with the first stage - an individual time-trial over 20km - to be held between the Splash & Fun Park-Coastline Hotel-Splash & Fun-Pembroke circuit, starting at 10am.

The tour continues tomorrow with a road race at the San Martin circuit, Saturday at Ta' Pennellu, Mellieha, and the final classic Sliema-Ghadira-Sliema race on Sunday.

Around 100 cyclists are taking part in the event, 30 of whom will be Maltese. These hail from the three local clubs, that is, Pamsons, Qormi and Mosta Mapei.

Among the foreigners taking part are last year's winners - Matteo Salute of the Ballatore Club of Sicily and Caterina Bloom of German club Charlottenburg.