Marie Claire Aquilina celebrates at the end of the fourth stage, yesterday. Photo: Wally GaleaMarie Claire Aquilina wrote her name in the annals of the Tour ta’ Malta after becoming the first local female rider to claim the coveted title, yesterday.
The 22nd edition of the Tour came to a close with a race over the St Paul’s Bay circuit that also saw Briton Will Corden becoming the Elite Class champion and Italian Domenico Sicori topping the Masters overall classification.
Aquilina made it four wins from as many stages after coming home first in the 66.6km by-pass race ahead Gab-riela Nordin and Hannah Pace.
Her accumulated time was 4:18.15. The runner-up overall was Michelle Vella Wood (4:19.07) with Bjork Kristensdottir third in 4:19.55.
Will Brown won the Elite Class race yesterday ahead of Luigi Petralia and Etienne Bonello.
However, Corden, the overnight red jersey holder, did well to administer his lead wisely and finish the 83.3km race safely to retain his position.
Corden’s time was 6:03.55 as Brown had to settle for second place overall in 6:04.22. Italian Filippo Ballatore was third – 6:07.01.
Alexander Pettett was the highest-ranked local rider in the Elite list ahead of Wayne Spiteri and William Hili.
As in the women’s race, the veteran riders in the Masters category covered a distance of 66.6kms. Sicori reached the gantry first in 54:15 in front of Michael Camilleri (55:48) and Stuart Nelilson (56:19).
In the overall classification, Sicori headed the list with an accumulated time of 3:48.25 over four stages.
David Williams (3:51.47) was second and Jimmy Jones (3:51.53) third.
The best-placed Maltese rider in the Masters was Fabio Spiteri whose overall time was 3:54.39.
In a statement, the organising committee said they were delighted to see Aquilina winning the women’s title for the first time while also showing their appreciation to a host of individuals, entities and sponsors who contributed to make this year’s Tour ta’ Malta a great success.