The 15th Tour of Malta gets underway today. There will be three events between today and Saturday and a final bike ride on Sunday.

A record number of participants – around 100 – are registered to take part in this year’s event.

Just over half of the cyclists are coming from abroad while the rest are Maltese. Eleven foreign clubs and five Maltese clubs have enlisted to take part in the event, which is increasing its popularity every time it is organised.

The foreign clubs who will have representatives taking part are Ballatore (Sicily), Napoli Villante (Napoli), Noord Cycling (Netherlands), Sikania Bike (Sicily), Sofia (Ivory Coast), Squadra Donne (England), Squadra Electro Systems (Sicily), Squadra Sicily Fruit (Sicily), Squadra Team Dustry (Sicily), Team CGA Enna (Sicily) and Ulster Cycling team (Ireland).

The Maltese clubs are Greens Cycling Club, Mosta AF Sign Studio Cycling Club, Qormi Kia Cycling Club, Birkirkara St Joseph and Melita Paddle Power.

In the Men’s event, there will be 40 foreigners and 36 Maltese, while in the women’s category there will be 14 foreigners and three Maltese.

The top local cyclists, that is, Etienne Bonello, Maurice Formosa and David Galea, as well as Stephanie Magri, Marie Claire Aquilina and Marika Micallef, will also be taking part.

On each day, the participants are to start en masse from near the Marina Hotel in Sliema, which is the headquarters of the Tour. This measure is also compulsory to put all participants on an equal footing.

The tour will start today from near the Kennedy Grove on the Salina Coast road. The second event will be on Friday at the San Martin Circuit while the third day is reserved for a race at the Ta’ Pennellu Circuit in Mellieha, following which the overall winner of the Tour will also be known.

On Sunday, the final day, there will be a Bike Ride, which is also compulsory for all participants.

Local vehicle drivers are requested to obey instructions from the Police during the events, although every effort is being done to limit the inconveniences to all.

The sponsors of the event include the Marina Hotel, Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, Twistees and Reemax.