Team Malta for the Liechtenstein GSSE received a massive boost yesterday when it was learnt that David Millar had accepted to represent his country of birth in the cycling time-trial.

John Zammit, president of the Malta Cycling Federation, told The Times that Millar, who already won gold for Malta in the 2001 Games in San Marino, will again don the Maltese jersey next month.

“Dave Millar will form part of our team in Liechtenstein,” Zammit said.

“He is willing to compete for us a second time and he’ll take part in the time-trial. Millar will increase our medal chances by no small way as he’s the favourite now to win the time-trial.”

Millar, born in Mtarfa in 1977 when his father was serving the British Army here, had first sounded his intentions of joining Team Malta in Liechtenstein in an interview with The Times last year.

The Maltese Olympic Com-mittee had already listed Millar in its provisional list for Liechtenstein even though in the past few weeks his participation was put into question.

In fact, the elite rider had sought assurances that his presence in the Maltese team for the GSSE would not jeopardise his chances of representing Great Britain in next year’s Olympics in London.

It seems that the MOC and the cycling federation have now provided Millar with the assurances he had requested.

Millar will be returning home to Girona, Spain, at the end of the Giro d’Italia where he succeeded in wearing the leader’s pink jersey for two days in succession. He is expected to join Team Malta in Liechtenstein on June 1, 24 hours before the time-trial which will be held in Ruggell.

Meanwhile, it was also confirmed that UK-based Andrew Griffiths, winner of this year’s Tour ta’ Malta, will not be forming part of the Maltese team at the 2011 GSSE as his bid for dual citizenship apparently hit a hitch.

“It’s unfortunate not to have Andrew with us in Liechtenstein,” Zammit said.

“However, we are hopeful that his papers will get the go-ahead and he will be available to ride for Malta in future Games.”