Marie Claire Aquilina (centre) lifts her trophy. Photos: Wally GaleaMarie Claire Aquilina won the Tour ta’ Malta for a second successive year yesterday after succeeding in preserving her overall advantage during the fourth and final stage.
Aquilina, of Team Greens, had seized the red jersey during Saturday’s third stage in Nadur (Gozo) and yesterday she ensured she remained in front of her rivals during the 88km road race at the demanding San Martin circuit.
Elice Sharp, of NCC Group Iwota Torelli, bagged her second successive stage win when completing the distance in one hour 47 minutes 15.83 seconds. Team-mate Stephanie Mottram was runner-up in 1:47:19.06 ahead of Gabriella Nordi (Team Greens) who clocked 1:47.20.11.
But in the overall women’s standings, it was Aquilina who secured first place with an overall time of four hours 37 minutes and 36.06. Mottram was second in 4:37:46.19 ahead of Sharp (4:38:15.99).
In the Elite category, William Brown rubberstamped his dominance when he made it two wins in a row after topping yesterday’s stage in two hours 28 minutes and 33.58 seconds.
William Brown.The Fietsen Tempo cyclist finished ahead of Danny Smith (Mammoth Life Style) in 2:30:03.78 while Velostrada Test Team member Henrik Forland recorded a time of 2:30:05.83 to complete the podium places.
Brown finished with a combined time of 5:56:21.29 to take the honours ahead of Forland (5:57:30.98) and Smith (5:58:26.28).
Team Greens rider Etienne Bonello was the first Maltese in the list with an aggregate time of 6:02:42.18.
Lukas Katapodis won the final stage of the Masters division to wrap up overall victory. He rossed the finish line in 1:31:45.35 ahead of Dave Griffiths (Mammoth Life Style) 1:31:47.74 and Team Ballatore’s Domenico Livorsi 1:31:52.07.
In the final standings, Katapodis topped the charts in 4:11:28.30. James Stewart (Bonito Squadra Corse) placed second in 4:11:47.57 while Griffiths (4:11:52.78) completed the podium.
Michael Camilleri was the first local rider in the standings in 4:16:18.47.