The cycling national championship took off earlier this month with the first race of the mass starts championship at Ta’ Penellu circuit in Mellieha. The race which featured the gruelling hill of Ta’ Penellu seven times was an appropriate testing ground to gauge the fitness of the Maltese cyclists.

The circuit also features in the Tour of Malta. With all the main contenders on the starting blocks the race took off in a frantic pace but it was until the beginning of the first climb that it really got serious.

Mosta AF Signs Studio started the hill in a solid steady pace, however, Pamsons CC duo Etienne Bonello and Ruben Colombo upped the pace and went in front with Bonello forcing the pace till the top of the hill.

He was followed closely by Jack Schiavone, Colombo, Ramon Grech (Pamsons) and Johan Vassallo, Mark Bonnici and Steve Sciberras from Mosta AF Signs studio.

In the following lap it was the hill that decided the race and once again Bonello, fresh from his participation in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games, showed his excellent form and took the front and pushed all the way up the hill dropping most of the riders.

Schiavone and Colombo were on his chase a few seconds behind. Bonello insisted on his breakaway attempt on the flat parts of the course and managed to open a lead, which he increased till the end of the race to finish first in 1:24:30. Schiavone, who also rode for Malta in Melbourne, and Colombo failed to close on Bonello and finished in second and third place respectively.

The cycling championship continued last Sunday with the first race of the time trial championship. This time the event took place at Mriehel bypass, a very fast course which saw riders reaching speeds up to 65km/h. Time trials are interesting to watch with riders starting at one minute intervals and trying to cover the 30km distance in the least possible time.

Special bikes and equipment are used to provide the best aerodynamic position to slice through the air with as little drag as possible.

The Elite race was battled between Schiavone and Bonello, both of whom did record times in Melbourne, however it was Bonello who took a small lead in the final 10kms to finish ahead of Schiavone in 35:23 as Schiavone was just 50 seconds behind. In third place was Johann Vassallo with an encouraging ride of 37:58.

Both events were made possible with the help of the police force, as well as the St John's Ambulance and other club officials. Next cycling event will be on 14 May at San Martin with the second race of the mass start championship, race starts at 7.30am