The organisers of the 2014 Tour ta’ Malta had every reason to sound positive at the launch of the 20th edition at the Pembroke indoor skate park yesterday, following yet another record entry.
Organisers told reporters that the Tour will be contested by no fewer than 137 riders who are expected to be t the start line of the four-day race starting next Thursday.
The participation figures better the ones of last year (131 competitors) and should increase the rivalry for the red jersey in all three categories – men, women and masters.
John Zammit, president of the Malta Cycling Federation, said 17 overseas teams have confirmed their participation and will be arriving this weekend. Malta will be represented by six teams.
Among the foreign participants will be 2013 women’s Tour winner Mathilde Mathijisse, of Holland.
The first stage will be an 18.2km time-trial.
This leg will not feature the usual circuit at Salina Coast Road. Instead the organisers moved the time-trial event to the Mellieħa By-Pass.
On Friday, the peloton will head to San Martin for a gruelling 100km road race.
The traditional road race in Gozo will be held today week in Nadur and the Tour comes to a close on Sunday, April 6 with another 12km time-trial, this time in Żebbuġ.
Zammit yesterday took the opportunity to introduce Italian Daniele Torsi with whom the Maltese cycling federation have just forged a partnership on a project to set up a continental team, composed of young, local riders.
Torsi, a former team doctor for a number of Italian and French teams, explained that in 2016, the professional road racing scene will feature promotion and relegation as part of a new, three-tier league system as proposed by world governing body, the UCI.
“The World Tour will be scrapped in favour of a system where each professional team has to be linked with a continental team,” he said.
“The Maltese continental team will be made of the most promising riders in the age bracket of eight to 16 years. The team will be completed by 2015 and preparations will start in earnest for the inaugural 2016-17 season.”