Super League triathlon has landed in Malta with the sport’s elite athletes paying a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat at Castille Palace in Valletta yesterday.
This is the first time that Malta was included on the Super League Triathlon schedule and it will surely put the country on the sporting world map as the best triathletes in the world will be present to take part in the two-race series scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Vittoriosa Waterfront.
Among the triathlon greats that have made the trip to Malta are the Brownlee brothers, Alistair and Jonathan. Alistair Brownlee is a two-time Olympic gold medallist while Jonathan is a seven time International Triathlon Union champion.
South African Henri Schoeman, an Olympic bronze medallist and Commonwealth gold medallist, and Katie Zafers, a two-time ITU world champion, will also be on the starting line this weekend.
Michael Dhulst, Super League Triathlon CEO, told a news conference that he was delighted that Malta has accepted to be part of the series and has no doubt that the weekend races will inspire many to start practicing the sport.
“It’s a great honour for Super League Triathlon to be here in Malta and stage the second leg of our world series,” Dhulst said.
“As Super League Triathlon we have managed to transform the traditional discipline of triathlon into a more spectator friendly event and we hope to be able to inspire a lot of Maltese youngsters to start practicing our discipline.
“With us we have brought some of the world’s leading triathletes who in the coming days will be sharing their experiences with hundreds of Maltese students as we are planning to visit a number of schools.”
The Super League Triathlon gets under way tomorrow with the opening stage of the Equalizer.
The swimming race will consist of an individual time trial where athletes will need to push hard as they will pay a ‘penalty’ for any time lost on the individual effort ahead of Sunday’s second leg.
On Saturday, the Eliminator will be up next for both the men’s and women categories. This consists of three stages of traditional swim-bike-run with the athletes looking to place high enough not to be eliminated.
On Sunday the second leg of the Equalizer is held.
This will consist of a swim-bike-run-swim-bike-run sequence which will see the athletes head off at different time intervals determined by their finishing in tomorrow’s individual time-trial.
Local enthusiasts have also the chance to take part in the Super League Triathlon weekend when on Saturday an Aquathlon will be organized.
Participants will be facing a 300m swim followed by a 4km run.
On Sunday, a 5km Fun Run is being organized by Nike on the same race course of the Super League Triathlon series.
Prime Minister Joseph Muscat welcomed all the triathletes and said that the government is committed to host world class events such as the Super League Triathlon.
“It’s a great pleasure for our country to have the Super League Triathlon here,” the Prime Minister said.
“It’s our intention to ensure that sport headlines in our society not only through popularization but we intend to implement a strategy aimed at identifying and nurture our own future champions.
“I’m confident that with the necessary resources we can fulfil our ambition and help our youngsters succeed in sport at international level.”
PROGRAMME
FRIDAY: 4pm Equalizer stage 1 – Female Swim Individual Time Trial. 4.50pm Equaliser stage 1 – Men Swim Individual Time Trial.
SATURDAY: 11am Super League Aquathlon. 1.15pm Championship Series – Women’s Eliminator; 3.30pm Championship Series Men’s Eliminator.
SUNDAY: 11am Super League Fun Run. 1.30pm Equaliser women’s stage 2; 3pm Equalizer men’s stage 2.