The inaugural mountain bike race of the season showcased a thrilling display of emerging talent as younger riders and newer talent surged to the forefront. Nevertheless, seasoned veterans gave a strong performance, such that this dynamic interplay served as a demonstration of the enduring competitiveness and depth of skill within the sport.
The Association hosted the first, of the five-part Cisk 0.0 National Point Series in Miżieb, which remains a firm favourite amongst riders due to the versatility of the terrain. The race also welcomed a number of international riders from Latvia and Cyprus.
Elite
Luke Borg, narrowly edged out for last year’s title by Clyve Chetcuti, wasted no time asserting his dominance from the starting line, swiftly establishing a commanding lead. Behind him, the initial pack saw a fierce pursuit, with Brandon Sultana, Clyve Chetcuti, and Jason Vella in hot pursuit.
As the race unfolded, the dynamic nature of mountain biking came to the fore, with positions shifting throughout. Stefan Scerri, steadily making his ascent through the ranks, engaged in a fierce battle with Chetcuti for a coveted podium spot. Borg maintained a firm grip on the lead until the finish, crossing the 7-lap course with an impressive one-minute lead.
Meanwhile, Scerri and Chetcuti engaged in a neck-and-neck duel, separated by a mere second until the final lap. In the final lap, Scerri surged ahead, clinching second place a solid 16 seconds ahead of Chetcuti.
Ladies
Diana Muscat took the lead from the start, followed by Lara Buttigieg and Fiona Tedesco. Muscat and Buttigieg maintained their positions until the end to take first and second place respectively. Whilst Tedesco was seemingly in for third place, Ladvian Adele Balansa overtook her in the final lap and clinching the final place on the Ladies’ Category podium.
Sport
Latvian rider Martins Mezsargs was the undisputed winner, crossing the line first ahead of Josmar Vella and Robert Grech. Whilst Grech was ahead of Vella in the initial stage of the race, Vella overtook him to take second place with an advantage of 25 seconds.
40+
In a fiercely contested category, the initial stages witnessed Alex Portelli, Justin Gauci, and Liran Ben-Ari setting the pace at the front of the pack. However, the dynamics of the race shifted dramatically during the second loop as Joaquin Rojas surged past the early leaders, seizing control and maintaining his position at the forefront until the race’s conclusion. Sharing the podium with Rojas were Alex Portelli and Robert Zammit, in a testament to the competitive spirit and skill within the field.
50+
Stephen Grima took a comfortable lead in the category ahead of Gaetano Catania and Federico Sermarini. The trio kept the placings throughout to complete the category’s podium. Mario Zammit, competed in the 60+.
Junior Categories
The Race attracted a number of junior riders. Amongst the elder ones in the category the Association noted that many of these riders have been competing from a young age and are growing up in the sport.
In the Under 19 category, James Vassallo, Kyle Scicluna and Saviour Vella completed the podium. Under 17 sole rider Ryan Gatt gave a good performance, whilst the Under 15 category was a well fought one with Neil Cassar, Liam Daly and Jake Refalo taking the honours. Nina Debono, Katie-Anne Vella Wood and Kim Micallef Cann took the honours in the U-15 Girls category. The Under 12 Boys Category saw Zac Bugeja take the win followed by Kurt Grech and Nolan Tabone. Mickaya Fava took to the podium in the Girl’s category.
“If the season opener is any indication, we’re in for an exhilarating season ahead,” remarked Pierre Zammit Endrich, Association President. “It’s truly rewarding to witness the fruition of our efforts in cultivating a thriving sport over the years. Seeing the younger riders progress through the categories as they mature within our community is particularly heartening. It speaks volumes about the vitality and growth of our sport.” The Malta Mountain Bike Association is supported by the award winning alcohol free Cisk 0.0 Lager, Gatorade and San Michel. The Association also thanked the FKNK for their assistance in hosting the race in Mizieb. The next race will take place on Saturday 23rd March