The Mosta AF Sign Studio Cycling Club organised its annual club race last Sunday in preparation for the start of the 2008 National Championship races.
An encouraging record number of participants registered for the race confirming a new revival for the sport of road cycling in Malta.
The weather was near perfect making the 4.5 km race circuit along the Zebbug/Mdina By-Pass a fast paced one indeed. Cyclists performed various distances ranging from 31.5 km to 80 km according to the different age categories.
In the Under 15 category, competing cyclists completed 31.5 kms. James Dimech (Mosta AF Sign Studio) the present Under 15 national champion, led the race from start to finish completing 7 laps in 56:07, almost three minutes ahead of second place Daniel Borg (Mosta AF Sign Studio) with a finish time of 59:00. Max Micallef (Qormi Kia), racing in his first season, finished in third place with a time of 1:00:00.
In the Ladies category, participants completed the 36 km/8 lap circuit with the race ending in a sprint finish, with only four seconds separating first place Danika Spiteri (Team Greens) with a finish time of 1:03:49, and second place Stephania Magri (Melita C.C.) with a finish time of 1:03:53, whilst Donatelle Callus (Melita C.C.) finished third with a time of 1:04:44.
In the Masters 50+ category, Emmanuel Bezzina (Mosta AF Sign Studio) dominated the race finishing the 45 km/10 lap circuit very comfortably in first place with a time of 1:15:00. Charles Sammut (Team Greens) finished in second place (1:25:51), eight seconds ahead of Michael Polidano (Qormi C.C.) who placed third (1:28:04) just one second ahead of fourth placed Frank Skorfna (Qormi Kia).
The Masters 40+ category was a well contested category with cyclists completing 11 laps/50 km. Brian Magri (Team Greens) dominated the race for the second consecutive year, placing first (1:24:20). Michael Lia (Mosta AF Sign Studio) a relative newcomer to the sport finished in second place (1:26:27) and Charles Demanuele (Melita C.C.) finished third (1:27:55).
In the Juniors category, the Mosta AF Sign Studio C.C. newcomer Andre Abela, finished the 63 km/14 lap circuit in first place with a time of 1:42:19
In the Elite category, in which cyclists had to complete 18 laps totalling 80 km, David Galea (Qormi Kia) escaped from the main peloton right from the initial stages, distancing himself by several minutes for most of the race.
Eventually, David Galea was caught up by the peloton resulting in the race ending in an exciting 5 man sprint finish. Although the contestants of this sprint finish were given the same finish time of 2;13:06 Etienne Bonello (Team Greens) reigning National Champion, finished first, David Galea second and Pierre Borg (Melita C.C.) third.
The Mosta AF Sign Studio thanked Mr John Zammit, President of the Malta Cycling Federation, the Police Corps, ADT, Timekeepers, Marshals, Red Cross Ambulance personnel, sponsors and the many other helpers and supporters for helping to make this event a successful one.