It was a tough outing for Team Malta in the men’s mountain bike cross-country final held at Bike Park Pal Arinsal on Thursday, as all three Maltese riders finished outside the top ten in a highly competitive field.
For Malta, Luke Borg was the best-placed rider, finishing in 14th position with a time of 1:08:40, two laps behind the leader. Close behind him was Clyve Chetcuti, who crossed the line in 15th place with a time of 1:09:53, also two laps down. Mark Bonnici, who was making his GSSE debut, completed the trio for Malta but endured a difficult day on the course, finishing 18th with a time of 38:24, four laps down.
The results were a disappointment for the Maltese contingent, who had hoped for a stronger showing. Despite the team’s preparations, the technical demands of the Bike Park Pal Arinsal circuit and the calibre of the opposition proved a stern test.
The event, part of the 2025 Games of the Small States of Europe (GSSE), saw Liechtenstein’s Romano Puentener dominate the course to take gold with a time of 1:24:18. He was followed by Cyprus’ Andreas Miltiadis (1:25:29) and fellow Liechtensteiner Felix Sprenger (1:26:01), who claimed silver and bronze respectively in a race that showcased power and endurance across the steep, winding Andorran terrain.
With the Games entering their final stages, Malta’s focus now turns to other disciplines as the delegation continues its bid to add to the medal tally in Andorra.
