The Malta Triathlon Association (MTA), in conjunction with Birkir-kara St Joseph Sports Club, organised the Triathlon de la Bastille on Sunday at the Salina Coast Road.

The race, a 750m swim, a 20km cycle and a 5km run, was the fourth event from the Red Bull Series.

Twenty-four athletes plunged into the calm and cool waters of Salina Bay at 7 a.m., with some coming from a swimming or cycling background trying out the triathlon for the first time.

It was Mark Zammit who exited on to the beach first in 11:07, followed, a minute later, by Simon Zammit and Gordon Camenzuli. David Galea was sixth in 12:56.

Maria Mifsud Bonnici was first woman and third overall in 12:41. In second place, 25 seconds behind Mifsud Bonnici, was Marylynn Bezzina.

Galea produced the fastest cycle time of 33:34, enough to power him to second place behind Zammit who, though slower than in his past three outings, still managed to start the run a full minute ahead of Galea.

Camenzuli managed to overtake Mark Bugeja to initiate the run segment third as Mifsud Bonnici had the best cycle time - 38:11, followed by Bezzina and Danica Spiteri.

In the run, Galea took only a few minutes to overtake Zammit and finish first in 1:06.34, exactly one minute ahead of Zammit. Camenzuli was third in 1:07.57.

Bugeja had a fantastic race. He was the top veteran triathlete and fifth overall in 1:11.35.

Bezzina had the best run time of 23:27 but failed to catch Mifsud Bonnici. The latter, however, was handed a two-minute penalty for a drafting infringement. Bezzina was eventually declared women's triathlon winner in 1:15.44.

Mifsud Bonnici had to settle for second place in 1:16.59. Spiteri's time was 1:18.53.

With one race to go, on September 19, Angele Cremona and Zammit are leading the provisional series standings. Cremona has 355 points and Zammit 398. The latter has already secured his category but Mifsud Bonnici and Bezzina are still in contention.

The next MTA event is the Al Fresco Swim-Run for All on July 25 at Pretty Bay, Birzebbuga.