Tour ta' Malta returns to Gozo

The Tour ta' Malta will return to Gozo for the first time in many years as details of the 2010 race were revealed by Malta Cycling Federation president John Zammit during the event's offical launch in Sliema, yesterday.

"Gozo has been absent from the Tour ta' Malta for the past seven editions and when the organising committee was presented with this idea by Joe Bajada we immediately started to work on it. We're also delighted that an agreement has been reached," Zammit said.

"The Gozo stage will be held in Xagħra where various road races are held regularly. The circuit is very popular among local cyclists and it will be a fitting competitive finale to this year's Tour."

Zammit said the 2010 Tour, now in its 16th edition and to be held as a memorial for former association secretary Cliff Micallef who lost his life in a traffic accident last year, has attracted around 100 riders so far.

Malta will be represented by 43 cyclists from five different clubs - Team Greens, Mosta AF Sign Studio, Qormi Scotts, Melita Paddle Power and Birkirkara St Joseph.

The Tour has also attracted four new overseas teams as Fausto Coppi Team (Italy), Ecomis Dusty (Sicily) and England's Bedfordshire and Bang & Olufsen have all registered for the race. The other overseas clubs in the Tour will be Noord Cycling (Holland), Ballatore Team (Sicily), Electro System (Sicily) and Squadre Donne (Italy).

Last year's winner, Francesco Guccione, will be on the starting line to defend his title. He is set to face a major challenge for the red jersey from fellow Italians Filippo Ballatore and Francesco Pizzo, and Malta champion Etienne Bonello.

In the women's race, Danica Bonello Spiteri, Marie Claire Aquilina and Roberta Bonavia will fly the Maltese flag.

The Tour gets under way on March 18 with a 32km time-trial over the Salina coast road route. The Tour moves to San Martin the next day for a 100km road race before crossing the channel for the Xagħra 67.5km stage.

On March 21, the organisers will be holding the traditional one-hour bike ride that leaves from Sliema and heads to Msida, Birkirkara, Mosta, Targa Cap, Salina coast road, Pembroke, St Julians and back to the Ferries.

Dave Millar, winner of a gold medal for Malta in the 2001 GSSE, will be the special guest for this year's Tour ta' Malta.

The Briton will be the official starter of the first stage in Baħar ic-Cagħaq before heading to Italy for the Milan-Sanremo classic race.