National Team participating in high-end racing this weekend

It will surely be a very exciting weekend for the National Triathlon Team at the Malta Triathlon Federation this coming weekend. Six of the members of the squad and the National Coach will be taking part in top continental races in view to prepare the team for the upcoming events, mainly the European Triathlon Championships but most importantly this summer's Commonwealth Games.

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With this in view, the current top male triathletes on the island, Keith Galea and Graham Borg will be partecipating in the Invitational Triathlon Test event which will take place at  Strathclyde Country Park in Glasgow, Scotland on Saturday 24 May. The event will provide an opportunity to validate the Commonwealth Games Triathlon course and help the athletes to familiarise with the course in view of their potential qualification for the Games. The two triathletes will be accompanied by Dermot Galea, National Triathlon Coach. The Commonwealth Games Triathlon events take place on July 24 and July 26, with three medal events including the new Mixed Team Relay making its Commonwealth Games debut.

The Female Squad will be complimented by National Duathlon Champion, Danica Bonello-Spiteri, Triathlon Champion Michelle Vella-Wood, Gold Medal European U23 European Age Group Winner Hannah Pace and Margaret Seguna. They will be racing in the Spanish National Sprint Triathlon Championships to be held on Saturday in Altafulla, a  town close to Barcelona. Spain is one of the dominating forces in World Triathlon and this will definitely prove to be a tough, challenging competition for the top four female triathletes in the current local Triathlon scene.

While commenting on these races, National Coach Dermot Galea stated that 'both races are very important as preparation for our National Team athletes in view of their possible qualification for the Commonwealth Games. Since both races are high level competitions, all participants will get the best possible experience to test their present abilities.  I'm expecting a strong  performance and from the Glasgow race we shall be taking note of all the key sections on the course which will serve well for the team that shall be selected for the Games'.

'Notwithstanding the fact that this will prove to be a very costly expedition for our team, we are intend to support our top athletes in their quest  to obtain slots for the Commonwealth Games and be in the best possible level of fitness and preparedness as possible, also for the June European Triathlon Championships. The support of the Maltese Olympic Committee is crucial for our Federation, our sport and our athletes' said Cyprian Dalli, President of Triathlon Malta. 

To compliment this exciting weekend, other Maltese athletes shall be taking part in races abroad this weekend. Fabio Spiteri will be tackling the Bilboa Triathlon in Spain while Glen Zammit and Josef Bonavia will be competing in the Ironman  70.3 at St. Polten, Austria. Both races will consist of a 1.9KM swim, 90KM cycle and a final half-marathon of 21.1KMs.

The Malta Triathlon Federation wishes the best of luck for strong performances to Danica, Hannah, Michelle, Margaret, Keith, Graham, Dermot, Fabio, Glenn and Josef.

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