The third stage of the 2005 Cycling Tour of Malta visited Ta’ Pennellu Hill in Mellieha.
The symbolic start commenced as usual in good time in front of the Tour Headquarters, the Marina Hotel in Sliema, from where it crawled toward St Julians, through the Ta’ Giorni Tunnels to the Salina Coast Road over St Paul’s Bay.
The course went down the hill and up again ten times for the males and five times for the females. The down slope was dangerously fast and fraught with sharp bends while the hill-climb was longer than San Martin and equally steep.
The weather was excellent – a light wind was blowing fresh air over the Ghajn Tuffieha Heights.
The starters prepared the male cyclists for a mass start and sent them off three minutes before the female troupe followed, each group guided by its own lead car.
The riders went off and for the first three laps remained in two tight pelotons, male and female, before starting to divide into lead and following sub-groups.
Attentive marshals scrutinised the riders’ every point and corner. But in the main the cyclists were scrupulously observant of race etiquette.
The winners finally were announced as follows :
Catherina Blum of Charlottenburg won the ladies event in a time of one hour 11 minutes and 08 seconds. Second was Nikola Hudson of BC Central and third Nadine Kirpal, also of Charlottenburg.
Nadine Kirpal won the day’s Red Jersey with an accumulated score of 3:11:54.
In the men’s event, it was Italian Filippo Ballatore who triumphed in one hour fifth eight minutes and three seconds. Second was Mark Mackay of Milton Keynes and third Roy Chamberlain of BC Central.
Ballatore had also figured well in last year’s races and has been attending the Tour since he was 14 years old when he used to accompany his father on his Malta visits. Chamberlain also gained the Red Jersey with an accumulated score of 4:26:09.
The Tour reaches its climax this morning when the longest circuit will commence at Sliema. The cyclists go to Mosta, then to Ghadira and return via the Salina Coast Road to Sliema Ferry in front of Marina Hotel where the final prize-giving Ceremony will take place. The course is expected to cover 53 kms.
The start-off will be at 10.45am.