Alex Royle, top rider in the time trial, shakes hand with Tour ta’ Malta winner Giuseppe De Salvo (right). Wayne Spiteri (left) was third in yesterday’s fourth stage in Żebbuġ. Photo: Janice DunnItalian Giuseppe De Salvo and Mathilde Mathjsse, of The Netherlands, are the winners of the 2014 Tour ta’ Malta which came to a close yesterday.
De Salvo, winner of the Tour in 2012, was third in the fourth stage held at the Żebbuġ by-pass after coming home behind Alex Royle (Team BH, 17:24) and Wayne Spiteri (Birkirkara St Joseph, 17:30) in a 12km time trial.
However, the Team Maggi rider did enough in the individual event to keep well clear of his nearest pursuer in the overall standings, Francesco Pizzo.
Pizzo covered the distance at Żebbuġ in 18:03, 29 seconds behind De Salvo whose time over the four stages was 4:54.18. Pizzo’s overall timing was 4:56.20. The third rider in the completed list was Tom Stockdale (Team BH, 4:58.01).
The highest-placed Maltese in this year’s Tour was Etienne Bonello. His timing yesterday was 18:25 and the overall effort for the Team Greens rider stood at 5:01.39 for eighth place in the final standings.
In all, 60 cyclists completed all four stages of the Tour in the Elite category.
Mathjsse, who raced for Bonito Squadra Corse, won the Żebbuġ time trial in 19:19 ahead of Marie Claire Aquilina (Team Greens, 19:46) and Joanne Blakely (GB Cycles, 20:01).
The Dutchwoman, the 2013 winner, finished with a time of 3:35.19 ahead of Mathilde Pauls (Fusion RT, 3:36.52) and Blakely (3:38.20).
There were 37 competitors in the women’s Tour and the best-placed local rider was Danica Bonello Spiteri (Team Greens, 3:41.28). She was fifth behind Maxine Filby (Trek Bicycle Coventry, 3:39.00).
James Steward (Bonito Squadra Corse) won the Masters class.
He rounded up his triumph with another fine ride in the time trial, winning it in 18:03. His added time over four stages was 3:23.00.
Steward Wilson (Bonito Squadra Corse, 3:29.01) was second and Giuliano Montedori (SS Grosseto, 3:29.29) third.