Maltese mountain bikers continue to make their mark on the international stage, with impressive performances at several major events across Europe, highlighting the sport’s growing popularity and competitive strength in Malta.
A standout moment came at the prestigious Etna Marathon in Sicily, a race known for its rugged volcanic terrain and spectacular routes that attract a diverse field of riders from elite athletes to ambitious newcomers. This year’s edition featured a record number of Maltese participants competing across the Granfondo, Marathon and Excursion categories.
In the 45 km Granfondo race, which included over 1,500 metres of elevation, Patrick Scicluna delivered one of the most notable performances, finishing 22nd overall and securing 2nd place in the M5 category. Mark Bonnici placed 34th overall in the same event, while Danica Bonello Spiteri impressed with a 2nd-place finish in the M3 category and among all female riders. Fiona Tedesco topped the W5 category and achieved 4th place overall among women, further underlining Malta’s strong female representation.
The longer 63.5 km Marathon route, featuring a punishing 2,100 metres of elevation gain, tested riders with steep ascents and technical descents. Andrew Caruana placed 29th overall and 7th in the M1 category, while Marie Claire Aquilina won the W4 category and achieved an outstanding 2nd-place finish among all female competitors.
In the Excursion category, 13-year-old Neil Cassar successfully completed the 20 km route with 800 metres of climbing, showing remarkable maturity and determination on a demanding course suited to more experienced riders.
Further north in the Dolomites, four Maltese cyclists represented the island at the HERO Südtirol Dolomites, one of Europe’s most challenging mountain bike marathons. In the 60 km Elite Sport, Master category, Clyve Chetcuti placed in the top ten of his group and finished 41st overall. Mark Zammit, Stephen Grima, and Robert Grech tackled the gruelling 86 km route, finishing 127th, 138th and 250th respectively among nearly 700 riders.
Another milestone came as 17-year-old Luke Galea became the first Maltese rider to compete in the WHOOP UCI Mountain Bike Enduro World Cup in Val di Fassa, Trentino. Despite suffering a heavy crash during practice, Galea started the race on Saturday but was ultimately forced to withdraw due to the effects of the fall. His presence at such a high-level competition marks a historic moment for Maltese mountain biking and provides valuable experience for the future.
“These results reflect the progress we have worked hard to achieve,” said Malta Mountain Bike Association President Pierre Zammit Endrich. “Our growing presence at these international events shows that Maltese mountain biking is on the right path and continues to develop in the right direction.”
With an increasing number of Maltese riders making waves across Europe’s toughest trails and marathons, the future of the sport on the island looks brighter than ever.
