Malta will field five cyclists in this year's edition of the Commonwealth Games. Cycling has gone from strength to strength in the last decade. Local cyclists have raised some brows since interesting results in the international scene have been achieved.

Both in San Marino 2001 and Andorra 2005 cycling has brought home medals together with the outstanding performances in the last two editions of the International Tour of Malta. Practically the preparation for the Commonwealth Games started the next day of the road race in Andorra, everyday is as important, being an easy day, a leg breaking session or a six hour endurance ride.

It takes some years until you start to reap the benefits of continuous and constant training, you need time to adapt to the training loads and resting periods until you start to compete and not just take part in a race.

The most experienced and successful cyclists will be on the starting line in Melbourne. Jack Schiavone will lead this compact team formed by himself, Etienne Bonello, Stephania Magri and Maltese-Australians Dave Treacy and Nick Formosa.

All riders are uniquely important for the team; Bonello and Schiavone will try their chances in the 40km time trial along the St Kilda coast road, on the 21st March, together with Stephania Magri.

It is the first time that Malta will field a female in such a major event. All will ride the road race. It will take place on the royal botanic gardens circuit on the 26th March; the race will feature a very fast and technical course over a distance of 170kms. It is estimated that the race will last around four hours.

No wonder that the riders need to train for long hours just to finish this kind of race. Treacy and Formosa have been preparing very seriously and both are in good form, perhaps they are in advantage than the Maltese based counterparts since in Australia they are in the racing season.

In Europe cycling starts in spring and it has been impossible to do any races in Europe, however the team will have enough time before the actual competitions to put some races in their legs to fine tune their engines.

All riders are very motivated and anxious to put up the best show they can despite that the main opposing countries like the UK, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Canada will be fielding full time professional cyclists.

All in all, the outcome of the competition is far from being predetermined, we have a strong team that will be ready to take any opportunity in order to leave the mark in Melbourne.

Great moments come from great opportunities and this is one of them.