Following last week’s International cycling Tour ta’ Malta, local competitive cycling resumed with the third round of the Mountain Bike Cross Country National Points Series which was held in Dellimara last Sunday.

The race consisted of five laps around a gruelling course which challenged the competitors with its steep inclines and technical downhills. Etienne Bonello of Team Greens managed to take the win after a hard fought battle with his club mate Ramon Grech. Grech who attacked Bonello on the first climb managed to open a lead as Bonello struggled to close on the former. It took a whole lap of extreme effort for Bonello to finally join Grech.

Grech’s good form was obvious but Bonello was nowhere less after his successful Tour ta’ Malta. In the third lap Bonello attacked after an uphill and managed to break away and gain some ground, which he kept till the finish to win the race with just a margin of just 15 seconds on Grech in 1:05:50. Mosta AF Sign Studio Mountain Biker Dominic Cutajar finished third in 1:09:40.

Stephania Magri (Team Greens/Pedal Power) was the only lady to compete and covered a reduced distance in 0:46:30. Luke Dimech Mosta AF Sign Studio won hands down after Adam Naudi (Team Greens) suffered technical difficulties on his bike category followed by Stephen Camilleri and Ray Galea, while Harold Psaila won the Sports Category.