Defending champion Etienne Bonello of Team Greens has consolidated his lead for another national title. The second race of the Centre Point Cycles national championship which was held last Sunday on the San Martin circuit was vigorously contested from the first kilometres.
With the San Martin hill featuring seven times during the day, the race turned into an absolute battle in each climb. Team Greens, led by Bonello, forced the pace each time to try and weaken the opposition of Mosta AF Sign Studio and Qormi cycling club.
It was in the third lap that Bonello and team mate Reuben Colombo made an important move forcing the pace even more with Bonello opening a lead.
Maurice Formosa of Mosta AF Sign Studio proved to have the legs to keep on Bonello’s wheel as both riders pushed hard to stay clear of the chasing riders.
However the chasing group did not leave much room for the leaders to get away and started riding hard and succeeded in neutralising the break in the final lap.
With the finish line at top of San Martin hill the riders watched each other very closely before the final effort to the finish.
Johann Vassallo of Mosta tried to precede everyone and attacked just before the hill gaining some dangerous ground. Bonello promptly went to his chase pulling all the riders behind him. He hammered up the hill and managed to overtake Vassallo and ride clear to the finish in 1:54:04.
Maurice formosa had a splendid race to finish just nine seconds behind Bonello while a sprint between Ramon Grech of Team Greens and Patrick Scicluna of Mosta determined the third place with Grech beating Scicluna on the line. In the Masters category Brian Magri (team Greens) was first with Emanuel Bezzina and Michael Lia both of Mosta in second and third place. Charles Sammut (team Greens) won the over 50 class followed by Qormi CC Philip Borg and Alfred Camilleri.
Luigi Mifsud (Mosta) was first amongst the juniors while the Under 15 was taken by James Dimech, followed by Stehen Behand and Robert Attard all of Mosta AF Sign Studio.
Bonello’s second win brought him closer to another championship title leading with 400 points followed by Patrick Scicluna with 315 points and Maurice Formosa with 305 points. The road race championship comes to and end with the 100km race at Zurrieq on Sunday 20 May. Start at 7.30am