Englishman Garry Baker starts favourite to emulate his 2000 success when the four-day Malta Tour gets underway today with a 16km time-trial on the Pembroke-Coastline circuit.

Baker, of Anglia Sports Club, will be heading a field of around 70 riders, many of whom hailing from local clubs Pamsons CC, Mosta Mapei and Qormi CC.

This year, the Malta Cycling Federation intensified their efforts in a bid to revive the 12th edition of the Tour after an absence of two years.

Various sponsors were enticed to lend their support to this event and assistance from the authorities and Kunsill Malti ghall-Isport was not lacking as well.

The foreign riders come from different clubs in England, Germany, Sicily and Holland.

Today's race will be preceded by a symbolic start from the Tour's base at Hotel Milano Due. Cyclists will be escorted during their 'warm-up' all the way to Pembroke where the time-trial gets underway.

The second stage tomorrow is an 80km race at San Martin. Saturday sees competitors facing the gruelling Ta' Pinellu circuit during a 50km race. The Tour comes to a close on Sunday with a race between Sliema-Ghadira and back, covering a distance of 55km.

Local hopes are pinned on Pamsons youngster Roderick Muscat. The 17-year-old faces an uphill task to become the first Maltese to win the Tour of Malta and don the coveted Red Jersey.

Muscat has shown tremendous form so far this season with fine performances in the opening races of the Malta Cycling Federation's season.

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