Malta triathlon champion Keith Galea has won the second race of the Sicily Triathlon Series to seize top spot in the general classification.

The second leg was a sprint distance triathlon in the historic surroundings of Marzamemi.

Organised by the Italian Triathlon Federation, last weekend’s race doubled up as Sicily’s regional championships, attracting several high-profile athletes.

Pro Italian duo, Enrico Schiavino and Ennio Salerno, who was favourite to win the race, were among the participants.

Galea came out of the water a few seconds behind the leading group.

Following a fast swim-bike transition, the Malta champion caught up with the front-runners in the first lap of the bike segment.

The leading pack now consisted of five athletes.

Noticing that most of his rivals were struggling to maintain a fast pace, Galea made several attacks in the second lap before making his winning move in the third.

He upped the pace in the last uphill section to pull clear of his rivals and open a good gap.

Galea managed to increase his advantage in the final 5km run to win in 59 minutes 28seconds.

In a statement, the Malta Triathlon Federation (MTF) said Galea was very pleased with his performance.

“Galea was not expecting to win but good tactics and powerful legs during the race helped him to achieve a great result in Sicily,” the MTF said.

Galea, who benefits from the government’s Flexi-Training Scheme, thanked his coach Dermot Galea and swimming coach Catalin Stan for their guidance. He also expressed his gratitude to sponsors Garmin Malta, BBB Cycling, Jaycee Malta, Mochika Outdoor Life, Lucida Laundry, dgtri.com and Starbene 24/7, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Birkirkara St Joseph Club, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and SportMalta for their vital backing.

Virtu Ferries also supported Galea’s trip to Sicily.