Maltese-Australian could make GSSE team

David Stacey, an Australian cyclist of Maltese origins, will be among the 100 male and female participants in this year's 13th Tour ta' Malta between April 7 and 10.

John Zammit, the Malta Cycling Federation president, yesterday told the media that Stacey, 26, has shown interest to ride for Malta in future international competitions. Zammit said that they had invited Stacey to take part in next month's tour and besides having a closer look at his qualities, the federation could also discuss the matter with Stacey himself.

Zammit did not exclude the possibility that Stacey could form part of the Malta team in the Andorra GSSE in May.

"It's something that we are taking into consideration," Zammit said during the tour's launching at the Marina Hotel, Sliema.

"The Tour ta' Malta is an ideal opportunity to gauge Stacey's potential. We intend to present our strongest team in the GSSE, that's our priority of the year. Our national squad members have been preparing in earnest for Andorra and training started months ago.

"All six members in the squad are in a good shape and will take part in the tour. If we think that Stacey could strengthen our medal chances in the GSSE we will not hesitate to include him in the team. Nothing has been decided yet, first we must see if he has to the potential to perform at such top level events."

Apart from three Maltese clubs in the tour - Pamsons CC, Mosta Mapei CC and Qormi CC - there will be 70 other riders vying for the leader's red jersey. These hail from different countries such as Albania, England, Germany, Greece and Sicily.

The winners in 2004, Germany's Katharina Blum and Matteo Salute, of Italy, have both confirmed they will be back to defend their titles.

The first stage of the tour is on Thursday, April 7. Here, riders will be involved in a time-trial over a 20km circuit between Bahar ic-Caghaq and Pembroke.

The second day includes a race at San Martin and, perhaps, the most gruelling stage is the penultimate one at Ta' Penellu, Mellieha. Participants in the men's tour will face an arduous 55kms, mostly uphill. The women's race will cover half the distance.

The tour comes to a close on Sunday, April 10 with a 53km stage from Sliema to Ghadira and back.

At the end of yesterday's news conference, Joe Lanfranco, a veteran cycling official was presented with the Merit Award for his contribution to the sport for the past 50 years.

The main sponsors of this year's tour are the APS Bank Ltd. Other assistance will come from the Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport, the Police Force and St John's Ambulance.

Previous winners

Men's tour: 1990 - Font Xavier Peres (Andorra); 1991 - Mark Laveth (England); 1992 - Gregoriadis Polic (Cyprus); 1993 - Riccardo Amaroù (Italy); 1995 - Boirs Nitchepurenko (Russia); 1996 - Michael Link (Germany); 1997 - Alberto Kunz (Germany); 1998 - George Wolters (Germany); 1999 - Tommaso Calimberti (Italy); 2000 - Garry Baker (England); 2001 - Riccardo Amaroù (Italy); 2004 - Matteo Salute (Italy).

Women's tour: 2000 - Nicole Cooke (England); 2001 - Charlotte Hopkinson (England); 2004 - Katharina Blum (Germany).