The Malta Mountain Bike Association kicked off the 2025 Cisk 0.0 National Cross Country Point Series on Sunday, promising an exciting season for both riders and spectators.
The first race took place in Mizieb, with a new and improved route that included some exciting changes. The course had “A” and “B” line options, where riders could choose their path based on their skill level. The B-lines were longer and slower, offering a more accessible option for a wider range of participants.
Elite category
In the Elite category, some familiar names returned to the start line alongside newcomers like Joaquin Rojas, who was last year’s clear winner in the 40+ Category.
The race started with fierce competition, with riders battling for the top spots. As the race went on, some mishaps mixed up the positions, and it was during the final lap that the podium spots were decided. Luke Borg, a favourite for the win, claimed first place, followed by Clyve Chetcuti in second and Stefan Scerri in third.
Ladies category
The Ladies’ Category had a small but competitive field. Marie Claire Aquilina took the top spot with a comfortable lead over Diana Muscat, who finished second. Fiona Tedesco came in third.
Sport category
Robert Grech won the Sport category, finishing 28 seconds ahead of last year’s winner, Josmar Vella, who came second. Keith Bartolo rounded off the top three in third place. The three riders established a strong lead early on and maintained it throughout the race.
40+ category
The 40+ category was one of the most closely contested races of the day, with Liran Ben Ari and Jeffrey Borg battling head-to-head throughout the four-lap course. In a dramatic finish, Ben Ari won by just one second, with Borg coming in second. Alex Portelli finished in third.
50+ category
Stephen Grima, last year’s winner in this category, extended his winning streak with a strong performance, finishing ahead of Carmelo Abela in second and Mario Zammit in third.
E-Bike category
The E-Bike Category saw more participants, reflecting the growing presence of e-bikes in mountain biking. Bernard Sammut took the win, followed by Ramazan Imre Icoz in second and Darrel Fiorini in third.
Junior categories
The event attracted a strong turnout of young riders in the Under 12 to Under 19 age groups.
In the Under 19 Boys category, Ryan Gatt finished first, ahead of Josch Louro and Matthias Gauci. Neil Cassar won the Under 15 Boys category, with Ethan Cumbo second and Jake Said in third. The Under 15 Girls category had a strong turnout, with Nina Debono Curmi claiming the win, followed by Katie Anne Vella Wood in second and Kim Micallef Cann in third.
In the Under 12 Boys category, Kruiven Farrugia took first place, with Andrew Spiteri and Nolan Farrugia finishing second and third. Zaliya Dimech won the Under 12 Girls category.
Malta Mountain Bike Association President Pierre Zammit Endrich commented, “The Malta Mountain Bike Association is dedicated to providing a positive racing experience, and that takes a lot of hard work from everyone involved. It’s inspiring to see some of our competitors also working behind the scenes—setting up the course, managing logistics, and then racing with full intensity. Their passion and commitment are what keep this series running smoothly, and we are very grateful for their efforts.”
The Association also thanked Farsons and the award-winning Cisk 0.0 Alcohol-Free Lager for their ongoing support, as well as the Federation for Hunting & Conservation Malta (FKNK) for their help in hosting the event in Mizieb. Lastly, they expressed gratitude to the volunteers who assisted with course preparations, markings, and marshalling.
The second race of the Cisk 0.0 NPS XC Series will take place on Sunday 16th February at the Majjistral Park. Racing starts at 8am.
