Gozo-Malta Triathlon tomorrow

The Malta Triathlon Association (MTA) will organise its biannual Gozo-Malta Triathlon tomorrow.

The race sets off with a 12km run from Gharb to Hondoq ir-Rummien where the athletes put on their wetsuits and swim to Cirkewwa, passing through the crystal seas of the Blue Lagoon. On reaching Cirkewwa, the athletes mount their bicycles on their way to Mgarr, doing several loops in Xemxija in order to build the distance to 40km.

Normally the race finishes at Birzebbuga but this year an alternative route had to be devised because several arterial roads are in the process of being rebuilt.

Meanwhile, the second race from the Red Bull Triathlon Series, organised by the Birkirkara SJ, will be held next month.

Towards the end of May, the MTA will stage a Supersprint triathlon at the MFA Indoor Pool at the National Stadium.

Following a two-week training camp held here earlier this month under the guidance of national coach, Steve Trew, Malta's top athletes are now preparing for the Triathlon Championships of the Small States of Europe, to be held on July 2 in Luxembourg.

Malta's goal is to win a medal in both the men's and women's events but uppermost in the minds of the athletes will be to attain the difficult times set by the MOC as Minimum Qualifying Standards. The benchmark (1hr 56m for men and 2hrs 10m for women) will translate into a berth for the Commonwealth Games which will be held in March next year in Melbourne.