After a two-year absence the Malta Tour will be back on our roads this month as the four-stage competition will be held between March 25 and 28.
John Zammit, president of the Malta Cycling Federation, yesterday said his organisation was looking forward and anxious to organise the Malta Tour once again. It will be the 12th edition since the first launching in 1990.
"We're really excited to be holding the Tour once again," an enthusiastic Zammit told reporters during a press briefing at the Casino Dragonara yesterday. "Two years without the Malta Tour was too much for us.
"In 2002 and 2003 we decided against holding the competition because of lack of financial resources. The Tour is something big for us. It needs careful planning. However, the government, through the ministries responsible for sport and tourism, has this time offered us a significant helping hand to revive this popular race in our annual sporting calendar."
The Tour is open for both men and women cyclists, all vying to don the red shirt reserved for the leader in the respective categories.
The first stage is scheduled for Thursday, March 25, when the riders will be involved in a 16km time-trial in Pembroke.
The next day participants will be heading for the San Martin circuit for an 80km ride, the longest stage in this year's Tour.
The third stage will be held on March 27 - a 50km race at Ta' Pinellu, Mellieha.
The final stage will be held the following day when the riders will leave from Sliema towards Ghadira before returning to complete the 55km at The Strand, Sliema.
Initial promotion has already been initiated and the response encouraging.
Over 90 cyclists, from Malta's three main clubs and eight others from overseas, hailing from Holland, England, Ireland, Sicily and Germany, have already registered. Foreign riders will be staying at the Milano Duo Hotel, Gzira.
Two former Tour winners also confirmed their participation this month.
Englishman Garry Baker, who won the race in 2000 for Anglia Sports Club, and Italy's Riccardo Amaroù, the current holder after winning the last Tour in 2001, will both be back.
Malta will be represented by, at least, 20 cyclists including leading riders Roderick Muscat and Dermot Galea.
The top three in each stage will be presented a medal with the overall winner in the men's race pocketing Lm100 in prize money.
Also, the first riders from local clubs in the respective categories will be presented with a trophy from the Sportswriters Association.
At the end of yesterday's press conference, Zammit presented a Merit Award Trophy to former association secretary Mario Riolo for his contribution to the Tour.