The cycling racing season kicked off last Sunday with the classic season opener Qormi to Dingli Individual time trial which was organised by Qormi Cycling Club.

The route measured just over 10 km and passed from Mriehel Bypass to Attard, up to Saqqajja Hill through Rabat and all the way to Dingli centre which had an inclination that made the race very hard.

The riders were set off at one minute intervals to cover the course as fast as they could. The hill at Saqqajja made everyone suffer and it was there that the strongest riders showed their good form as they pedalled up the hill in an impressive pace.

Over 40 riders from three different clubs took the challenge who transformed the event into an exhilarating and exciting race for the spectators who spread on the course.

Team Greens (TG) and current time trial champion Etienne Bonello registered the best time of the day with 18:24.

Up and coming junior rider Luigi Mifsud of Mosta AF Sign Studio (MAFSS) registered the second best time with 18:43 while Johann Vassallo of Mosta clocked the third best time with 19:05 placing him in second place in the Elite category with Ramon Grech (TG) in third with 19:12.

Danica Spiteri (TG) won the ladies category with Stephania Magri (TG) and Michelle Wood (MAFSS) in second and third.

The year 2007 saw the return of the seven-time national champion Brian Magri (TG) who won the masters category followed by Emanuel Bezzina (MAFSS) and Paul Bonello (TG).

Charles Sammut (TG) clocked the best time in the over 50 followed by Philip Borg and Alfred Camilleri, both of Qormi Cycling Club. Stephen Behan, Daniel Borg and Robert Attard all of Mosta topped the under 15 category while Christian Formosa (TG) and Max Brincat (MAFSS) finished behind Luigi Mifsud in the juniors.