Clayton Bartolo might seem like a guy like any other. Elegant, yes, but at the same time a simple guy. And instead he is the Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Malta.
He has clear ideas on why Malta has landed in cycling and in Eolo-Kometa in particular. In the luxurious Corinthia Hotel in Budapest before the conference, the Minister spoke with pleasure about this important project..
In this photo provided by Eolo-Kometa, the cycling pro's discover Malta The Visit Malta logo now proudly displays on the Eolo-Kometa jersey
In this photo provided by Eolo-Kometa, the cycling pro's discover Malta The Visit Malta logo now proudly displays on the Eolo-Kometa jersey
Minister, the most immediate question is: why Malta in cycling?
Malta wants to enter the world of cycling and cycle tourism. During the pandemic we drew up our tourism strategyTen years ago, we identified several tourism niches we wanted to enter, and sports tourism is one of them. In fact, it's one of the most important. We would like to become a cycling tourism meccaAnd now we want to break the news to the world. Thanks to the agreement with Eolo-Kometa, we want to say that Malta is ready to enter this worldWith them we are at the Tour of Italy, which is one of the most prestigious events in the world and we therefore want to take advantage of the great visibility of the Giro which is widespread in many countries.
Why Eolo-Kometa and not other teams?
We are a young country, but in cycling we are even younger. We have thus found a young team like us, with whom we want to growThere is a lot of trust between us. We also chose this team to give a concrete opportunity for our young peopleBecause, okay, here we are talking about marketing for cycling and cycle tourism, but In the future, the agreement could prove to be an opportunity for our young cyclistsMaybe they'll have the potential to join the team. They'll be able to work toward a specific goal.
At the press conference in Budapest, Basso explained the agreement with Malta Valerio Agnoli plays a key role in the relationship between Malta and Eolo-Kometa
At the press conference in Budapest, Basso explained the agreement with Malta Valerio Agnoli plays a key role in the relationship between Malta and Eolo-Kometa
And this is true, when you have a concrete goal the stimuli increase…
Exactly, I could say that We are celebrating a wedding between Malta and Eolo-Kometa!
When you think of Malta, you think of the sea, summer... and not cycling. What opportunities are there for cycle tourists? How many routes are there?
There are many destinations to discover. And not just on the road, I'm thinking of mountain biking and gravelAnd then we shouldn't just think about Malta, but also Gozo, Malta's sister island. There are many countryside and inland areas to enjoy. There's a lot to do. The landscapes are very diverse, and the weather is good year-round.. And this is one of our advantages. The idea is to attract teams to Malta. And it's a model that we have already developed in football (they have hosted among other things, Manchester United(Editor's note). Something we implemented during the pandemic. Malta was one of the very few countries to move in this direction. And successfully, without encountering any particular problems. Well. we want to replicate this model for cycling too.
Malta is a small island: in the space of a few kilometers you go from countryside to beaches, to cities of art Paths and roads suitable for cycle tourism, which in winter finds very mild climates
Malta is a small island: in the space of a few kilometers you go from countryside to beaches, to cities of art Paths and roads suitable for cycle tourism, which in winter finds very mild climates
An ideal place for preparatory retreats…
Let's start with the Eolo-Kometa first. We will have a team presentation and also a training camp. And from there we'll see if there are other teams that will be interested in coming.
So, Minister, not just traditional tourism, but also sports tourism. Are you an athlete?
I go mountain biking. I live in Mellieha, in the north of Malta. There's a lot of countryside, but there are also other routes in the south. One can go cycling in the morning, visit a cathedral in the afternoon and enjoy a good dinner in the evening.Malta is a small island but, as I repeat, it offers many opportunities.
The idea of encouraging cycle tourism is also linked to the fact of not only targeting the summer season.
Exactly, you can visit all year round. The climate is ideal.
Minister, even though we're in Hungary, we're at the Giro d'Italia. What do the Maltese know about cycling, and the Giro in particular?
They know a lot. There are many cyclists and many fans of the Giro d'ItaliaMalta is not far from Italy. There is an affinity with your country, which is a destination for many Maltese. I also think – he adds before taking our leave – that There is another dream in the future: that of organizing a grand departure of the Giro d'Italia from Malta.Another step that marks our entry into cycling more and more.
It may seem obvious, but the enthusiasm is palpable. The Minister himself spoke of marketing, but this does not take away the charm of an initiative that smells good.Which aims to grow and create virtuous circles. Valerio Agnoli, very elegant in double-breasted with the Malta pin that peeks out on the jacket, was the hook of this projectHe's worked hard on it, and after our interview with the Minister, he winks as if to say: you'll see, there's still a lot that can be done...
