National Duathlon Champion for the 5th Time

Hi Everyone

Recently I took part in the National Duathlon Championships organized by the Malta Triathlon Federation on the Mtarfa by-pass. The race consisted of 8km Run, 20km Bike and a 4km Run. I knew that it was going to be a very tough race as the course was very hilly and one had to pace himself well in order to finish strong. I was very careful how to manage myself as being sick for so long I knew I was not in the shape I wanted to be for these championships but my the victory in Dingli Duathlon 2 weeks before gave me a lot of confidence.

I entered first in the first transition together with 5 other athletes. I really focused on my transition to do it as fast as I could and in fact managed to gain a few seconds. I noticed that I opened a small gap and I attacked the first 2km of the bike. I was using my new Road Bike – the SCOTT FOIL and I was feeling really good on it. I was feeling strong so I kept on persisting in my attack although a group of 6 cyclist was formed behind me. Still I managed to increase my lead to 26 seconds before starting the last run where I administered well my advantage and went on to win my fifth Duathlon title (4^th consecutive one) and the  4^th win of the season.

I am very pleased with my performance especially with my bike. It was my first race on my new SCOTT FOIL Road Bike and felt really good. In fact I managed to do a personal best on the bike from 2 years ago using my time trail bike. It was a very risky tactic going all out from the beginning of the bike segment alone with a group of 6 cyclists working together behind me. However my legs were in good shape and managed to hold on till the end. Doing such an effort is very demanding on the legs and was a bit afraid that I won’t have legs for the 2^nd run but I was very careful on how to manage the effort on the bike and still managed to run well

I would like to thank my coaches Ivan Rozhnov and his brother Dermot Galea, my parents and my wife’s parents,my masseur Owne Attard. my nutritionist Johanna Galea and my sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Saracino Café, Scott Bikes, Starbene 24/7, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Lucida Laundry, mvg PR&Marketing, my Club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation and the Maltese Olympic Committee for the constant support. Most of all a big thanks goes  to my wife Elizabeth and my daughter Elise who were very supportive these last three months. I would like to dedicate this win to all those who helped me these last three months in order to get back in a decent shape to race.

That’s all for now.

Yours in Sports

Keith

Another victory on Easter Saturday

Hi Everyone

On Easter Saturday I took part in the Mellieha AC Sprint Duathlon . Held in Dingli, the race consisted of a 5km run, a 20km cycle followed by a 2.5km run. Before the race I was going through a very tough period. Despite having fought persistent illness for the past months, I still decided to do the race

I set myself a slower pace in the initial 5k run which saw Spanish triathlete Andres Bernal first into transition. Barnal was closely followed by Pembroke Athleta duo David Agius Lia and Shaun Galea. I entered transition in 4^th place a few seconds later. Following a very good transition I paced myself well in the bike segment and in the fifth kilometre i was leading the race.

 Keeping up my pace was only Shaun Galea, who followed me until the last hill when I threw in my last attack and managed to open a gap. The attack continued giving me a 20 second advantage into transition.  I gave all I had left in the 2.5km run and managed to  increase my lead to win his third race of the season in a time of 1 hour 29 seconds.  Shaun Galea, nevertheless gave a very fine performance to cross the finish line in second place in a time of 1 hour, 1 minute and 9 seconds, whilst James Cuschieri finished third in 1 hour, 1 minute and 55 seconds.

I am very pleased that I won the race. It was another hard victory as Shaun was on form today. I had to reduce my training due to persistent illness but this victory gives me courage to keep on fighting my illness and it proves that I am recovering slowly. I was very cautious in the first run. Not knowing how my body will react i decided to keep a slower pace and was getting better and better after. The legs were responding well on the bike  and had a very strong 2nd run. Now I hope to recover quickly so that I can resume to my normal training schedule

I would like to thank my coaches Dermot Galea and Ivan Rozhnov. my parents and my wife's family, my nutritionist Johanna Galea and my masseur Owen Attard I am very grateful for the support provided by my club Birkirkara St. Joseph Sports Club, Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee, SportMalta as well as Garmin Malta, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, DGtri.com, Scott bikes, Saracino Cafe, emvigee pr & marketing, Starbene 24/7, Lucida Laundry.Most of all a big thanks goes to my wife Elizabeth and my little baby Elise for their great support and patience with me especially during the last three month. Their support for very fundamental

for me.

That's all for now

Yours in Sports

Keith

First win of the season on foreign soil

Hi Everyone

Recently I participated in the first Satiro Sprint Duathlon held in Mazara del Vallo in the Region of Trapani in Sicily. The race consisted of the 5km around the historical place of Mazara, 20km on the promenade of San Vito and finish again with a 2.5km Run. The weather was really good but it was very windy which made the bike very difficult for us athletes. Unfortunately few days before the race I got sick so I did not know how my body was going to react under race pace intensity. For sure I knew it was not going to be an easy race

I went immediately in front setting my own pace. Only Mario Giordano of Multisport Catania managed to keep up with my pace. We entered together in T1 and started the bike together helping each other opening agood  gap from the rest of the field. Due to strong winds and not feeling 100% it was useless to attack so I decided to keep on working with Giordano and leave everything for the last run.

After a good T2 I went out of the transition leading the race with Giordano hot on my heels but I noticed that he was struggling and kept a sustained pace until 100m from the finishing line where I opened my sprint finish to win the race in 59.08. This was my2^nd win of the season and the first one on foreign soil. I am very pleased that I managed to win the race even though I was not well but in my opinion winning the race on a weak body means that I am in a very good shape.

I  would like to thank Sportmalta for funding this race and for the Flexi training scheme, my coach Ivan Rozhnov and my brother Dermot Galea, my family and my wife’s family, my nutritionist Johanna Galea, my masseur Owen Attard and my sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Saracino Café, Scott Bikes, Starbene 24/7, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Lucida Laundry, emviigee

PR&Marketing, my Club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation and the Maltese Olympic Committee for the constant support

Most of all a big tanks goes to my wife Elizabeth and my daughter Elise for being there for me every time I need them and for their great support and patience which are very fundamental for me

That’s all for Now

Yours in sports

Keith

Hardest win but one of the most beautiful of my career

Hi Everyone

On the 12^th February the 2017 multisport season kicked off with the traditional Draft – Legal Sprint Duathlon organised by Agones Sfc in conjunction with Hal Safi Local Council. The race was held in the circuit of Hal Safi and consisted of a 4.4km RUN – 18KM Bike and 2.2km Run. Before this race I took part in several running and cycling races placing 3^rd in the Urban Jungle Valletta 10km and in the 3000m Pre Season meeting at the Marsa Track

It looked from the very beginning that it was going a tight battle between Shaun Galea, David Agius Lia and myself. We pulled away from the rest of the group and came in together in T1 covering the first run in a time of 15.09. I tried to make the bike difficult from the very beginning as I attacked immediately in the first kilometre. However Shaun and Agius Lia were hot on my heels. I did not give up and I continued to attack to build a gap on my nearest competitors however they were all unsuccessful as both of them paid great attention to all my moves. Then I decided to slow down and rest my legs for the final run. We covered the bike in 32.07.

                                                 

Agius Lia started the run at a very fast pace and I managed to stay with his pace but at one point with Agius Lia who open a gap of 50m. I did not give up and I really had to do a massive effort to dig deep into my reserves and launch my final attack. Not only did I close the gap but also managed to launch the final sprint finish to win my first race of the season in a time of 55.28. Lia came in second in 55.33 and Shaun Galea 3^rd in 56.03.

I am very happy with my performance. I expected such a hard race although at one point I thought that I was not going to win knowing too well that normally I would not turn on a strong final sprint finish. This year I changed completely the approach to my training regime and am trying to build his form slowly in order to reach his peak in June for the European Triathlon Championships. This win is very significant as it consolidates all the improvement done this winter. I was particularly pleased with the great sportsmanship shown through – a great example for all athletes, especially the young ones present

I would like to thank everyone for voting for me for the people choce award. I came 3rd with just 2.5% from winning the award. So close but I am grateful that I was in the final and will work harder so that one day I will make it to the final again and try to win this award

I would like to thank my coach Ivan Rozhnov, my brother Dermot Galea, my wife Elizabeth, his daughter Elise and the rest of my family, his sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Starbene 24/7, Sarracino Café, Lucida Laundry, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and Sport Malta for the Constant support.

That’s all for know

Yours in sports

Keith

Shortlisted for the People's Choice Category

Hi Everyone

GREAT NEWS. I was shortlisted as one of the finalists for the Peoples Choice Award Category in the final of the Sportmalta awards - Ghazliet Sportivi Nazzjonali thanks to my overall victory in the Sicily Triathlon Series last year. I was very surprised to make it to the final of such prestigious awards but also honored to represent my club, my sponsors, the Malta Triathlon federation and all the Maltese Triathlon Community.  Also recently I was shown recognition for my success in the Sicily Triathlon Series in a meeting with Hon Prime Minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat and Parliamentary Secretary for Sport Hon. Chris Agius

 The success in the Sicily Triathlon Series was not an easy task.  The series was made up of 6 races as 4 sprint distance triathlons and 2 sprint Duathlons, The Journey to the overall crown started with a 2nd place in the Pergusa Sprint Duathlon, loosing 1st place by a mere 15 seconds but it was a great start as I was sick before the race and could not ask more than that to my body

The 2nd stage was in Marzamemi, this time a Sprint Triathlon. I won the race after a strong attack on the bike and managed to open a good gap which kept it till the finish. Thanks to this victory I was the new leader of the series. In the 3rd race held in Augusta, I came 4th loosing the 3rd place in a sprint finish but still kept my overall lead.

In the 4th race held in Ali Terme I was determined to do well and try to open some gap in the overall classification but as soon as I  went out of T1 I had a flat tyre. Quitting was not an option and i still rode my bike on a flat Tyre for 10km until i was given a spare wheel. I lost a lot of time and I was very far away from the top places but I wanted to finish the race as every point counts. Although the race was ruined I did not give up and gave everything I had till the end and finished the race in 8th place thus slipping to 2nd place in the classification

The 5th race was the hardest race of the series and the hardest race I ever done in my whole life. It was a sprint duathlon on Mount Etna with both runs off road, something I never did in my life. After what happened in Ali Terme I almost gave up for the overall win and I needed to do a great performance in order to get back on track to win the series. 

It was the first time that i rode a mountain like Etna but knowing that I am strong on the hills I attacked the mountain and managed to pull away from the group. I finished in 3rd place behind two professional triathletes and managed to gain a lot of points on my nearest competitors thus claiming back the top spot in the classification going to the Grand Final, a sprint triathlon in Catania with a comfortable lead where I finished in a good 3rd place and declared winner of the first edition of the Sicily Triathlon Series

It was a great experience doing this series and it was one of my targets to do several ranked races in Sicily. All this was only possible thanks to Sportmalta who funded most of the races and also my club Birkirkara St Joseph who helped me financially as well. 

I would like to thank my coach Ivan Rozhnov, my brother Dermot Galea, my wife Elizabeth, my daughter Elise and the rest of my family, my sponsors www.garminmalta.com, BBB Cycling Malta, Jaycee Malta, Team Barry Malta International Challenge Marathon, Starbene 24/7, Sarracino Café, Lucida Laundry, my club Birkirkara St Joseph, the Malta Triathlon Federation, the Maltese Olympic Committee and Sport Malta for the Constant support

THE FINAL OF THE SPORTMALTA AWARDS IS ON SATURDAY 25TH FEBRUARY AT THE MEDITERRANEAN CONFERENCE CENTRE AT 20.00. PLEASE VOTE FOR ME ON THE LINK BELOW

www.sportmalta.org.mt/peoples-choice-awards-2017

Yours in Sports

Keith

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