Hi Everyone
After winning my 6th National Triathlon title, I
took part in the grand final of the Sicily Triathlon Series a week later in
Catania. This race was the last race of the season and I was determined to end
the season on a positive note. The Series consisted of 6 races around Sicily
and it was the main target for the 2016 Season.
The race in Catania was a Sprint Distance Triathlon which
consisted of a 750m Swim 20km Bike and a 5km Run. After my brilliant performance
in the previous race where I managed to regain the leading jersey, I had a good
advantage in the general Classification before this final and my intentions
were to administer well the advantage and plan this last race on the athletes
who were following him.
I came out of the choppy water in 7th place and
after a good transition I managed to be in a good group were we all did our
part and worked really well together. This was of a great advantage for me as
in less than 15km, we managed to catch the front runners. At this stage I tried
to save energy for the run. In fact, I started the 5km in 4th place but
thanks to a very good run I managed to get third place which was sufficient enough
to be crowned champion of Sicily
I am overjoyed with my performance and with the overall
victory as it was my main target of the 2016 season. It’s an honour for me to
be the first winner of this series and it was not an easy win at all as I had
to challenge himself with professional triathletes like Ennio Salerno whom a
week before won the Italian National Team Triathlon Championships, Enrico
Schiavino and Gabriele Grimaldi. The race was very tactical and the fact that I
found collaboration of the bike helped me to catch the front runners and save
his legs for the run, In fact I ran well and from 7th managed to
place myself in 3rd.
In my opinion my consistency was the main
factor of this win. In the first race he placed 2nd overall in
pergursa and won the following race in Marzamemi. In the 3rd race I
placed 4th overall in Augusta and in the 4th race which
was in Ali Terme Galea finished in 9th place but he lost time on the
bike as he suffered a puncture. At this stage I was 2nd overall in
the general Classification but then in August I had a brilliant performance in
the Etna Duathlon as he finished 3rd overall and regained the
leading spot.
My performance in the Etna Duathlon was the crucial part of this
win as I not only managed to regain the leading jersey but opened a very good
gap on my nearest rivals. However I think that I won the series in the 4th
race were I had the puncture because I still kept on going till the end in
order to get as much points as possible as I always believed that I could win
it. Thanks to this victory, Galea was named as the Sicilian Triathlete of the
year.
In the end I would like to thank Sportmalta and my club
Birkirkara St Joseph for their financial help in order to participate in this
series and the Malta Triathlon Federation for the constant support throughout
this season. I also would like to thanks my coach Ivan Rozhnov and my brother
Dermot Galea, my masseur Owen Attard , his family and my wife’s family and my
sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB
cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon,
Lucida Laundry and Starbene 24/7.
Most of all I would like to thanks my wife
for her great support throughout the season. It was a difficult year for both
of us full of pressure, tension and misfortune and her great support really
help me to go through the tough moments I had to face. I want to dedicate this
victory to my Wife Elizabeth and our new born daughter Elise
That’s all for now.
Yours in Sports
Keith
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