Winner of the first Edition of the Sicily Triathlon Series

Hi Everyone

After winning my 6^th 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 7^th 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 4^th 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 7^th managed to place myself in 3^rd. 

In my opinion my consistency was the main factor of this win. In the first race he placed 2^nd overall in pergursa and won the following race in Marzamemi. In the 3^rd race I placed 4^th overall in Augusta and in the 4^th race which was in Ali Terme Galea finished in 9^th place but he lost time on the bike as he suffered a puncture. At this stage I was 2^nd overall in the general Classification but then in August I had a brilliant performance in the Etna Duathlon as he finished 3^rd 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 4^th 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

National Triathlon Champion for the 6th time - 5 years in a row

Hi Everyone

Last Sunday the 2016 Multisport Season came to an end with the most important race of the the seasion - the big one - the National Triathlon Championships. The most important race of the season  as it's a special race for me and all of my family. A week before the race I won the last race of the Birkirkara st Joseph Triathlon Sprint Series in a time of 1.00.49 just 18 seconds away from the own course record done in June.

In the 750m Swim I came out of the water in 3rd place but on the bike i managed  to get the lead of the race. I was feeling really good on the bike, however I knew that i had to leave everything for the run in order to win the race and the other athletes were hot on my heels. In fact I started the 5km run at a very hard pace and i managed to open a good gap and went on to win the race with a minute lead. I was pleased with my performance and everything was looking good for the championship a week later.

On the day of the big race the weather was very humid. It was very hot and that meant that the run was going to be very hard. The week of the race was full of emotions and tension as my wife gave birth to our daughter Elise on Wednesday 28th September, coincidentally it was also my mum's birthday. From that day the sleepless night's started. Physically I was feeling strong but was feeling tired and did not had much time to rest. However mentally I was feeling great. I was feeling confident and i knew what i had to do.

I started the 1500m swim really well and went immediately in the leading group. The pace was not that demanding so I just stayed behind and leave all my energy for later. Was feeling strong and felt my stroke was very efficient. All good positive things. I was really looking forward for the bike segment as I was going to race for the first time with my new Time Trial Bike - The Scott Plasma. I only road the bike the day before the race and i immediately felt great and comfortable.


Had a very bad transition as i did not had time to practice transitions on my new bike and lost a lot of time. I was third and had to catch up the time lost but i stayed calm. From the first pedal i noticed that i was going to do a great bike segment. I was feeling great on the bike. I could use all my strength and i was reducing their lead immediately. In fact after only two laps i took the lead of the race and from then on there was no looking back. I was feeling so confident and strong on my new bike that this time no one managed to keep up with my pace like the previous races. I was increasing my advantage in every single lap and came into T2 with more than 1.30 lead

I was really happy with performance on my bike and in fact I registered the best bike split of the day of 1.02.30. Seems that my new scott tt bike and I are going to have a lot of satisfying results and that we are going to enjoy the races alot. I started the 10km at a good pace. My legs were not tired and that was another good sign. They were still fresh. Although i pushed a lot on the bike, I still reserved energy for the run. It was very hot but I hydrated myself well. I was happy that i still kept on increasing my advantage in that heat and went on to win my 6th title of my career in a time of 2.05.26

I am very happy  with my performance. It was a very difficult week but it turned out that I had the best race of the season. Was strong and confident all the way. It was a great day for all my family as my brother Dermot won the sprint Triathlon as well and with this victory we have a total of 16 national titles together. I would like to thank all my family, my wife's family and of course my wife for the gift of MY new bike scott plasma TT. I was going through a very hard period. I was not enjoying the sport anymore and even more racing and i was seriously considering to retire at the end of the season and just focus on my wife and on my daughter. But my family did not accept my decision as now triathlon is part of my life and that there is still more for me so they gave me my new bike to boost my moral and it worked. Thanks a lot. Now I am really looking forward for next season

I would like to tank my coach Ivan Rozhnov, my brother Dermot, my parents and my wife’s family, my masseur Owen Attard,  my sponsors Garmin Malta BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Mochika Outdoor Life, Lucida Laundry, Starbene 24/7, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, my Club Birkirakara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and Sportmalta for the constant support.

Most of all a big thanks goes to my wife Elizabeth who is the most important person of my life as her support is fundamental for me. Her help and believe in my abilities even during the tough moments helps me to keep going and believe in my talent in order to achieve my targets. Also a big thanks for giving birth to our daughter Elise

(Photo courtesy Angie conti and Mark Borg)

That's all for know

Yours in sports

Keith