The 2013 Nestlè Fitness Malta Challenge Marathon gets under way this afternoon with the opening stage of the three-legged 42-km race.

Race organisers retained the same traditional routes with the 11.195km race from Mdina to Rabat and back heralding the start of the Challenge, now in its 23rd edition.

Tomorrow’s second stage will be a 6km run in Birżeb-buġa and the Challenge wraps up on Sunday with the most gruelling stage from St Paul’s Bay to Valletta (25kms).

The finish line will be at Freedom Square.

Last year, Poland’s Bartosz Mazerski won the men’s title with an overall time of two hours 20 minutes and 16 seconds while Carmen Hili topped the women’s category in two hours 53 minutes and 14 seconds.

Among those vying for the honours are former winners of the Challenge but Joelle Cortis, the 2010 champion who is back to full fitness, will not take part due to personal reasons.

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