The cycling national championship go underway last Sunday with the first mass start at Ta’ Pennellu in Mellieha. The Ta’ Pennellu circuit is definitely the hardest in Malta and clearly reveals who are the fittest riders of the season.
Being the opening race of the mass start national championship, the top riders did not fail to show their good form as they climbed the Ta’ Pennellu hill seven times before the finish. Team Greens rider and defending national champion Etienne Bonello uncovered his cards to win the hard fought race in the final climb.
The Mayor of Mellieha, Robert Cutajar, gave the official start to the race as the riders dashed away despite the strong winds which hindered the race.
At the top of the first climb four riders opened a gap, and it was clear these were going to fight for the race victory. David Galea of Qormi KIA, Maurice Formosa of Melita Pedal Power and Etienne Bonello and Dutchman Bram Bongers of Team Greens challenged each other up the seven climbs.
Into the final climb David Galea showed that he was still on top when he set a strong attack as Bonello and Formosa tried to stay on his wheel. Galea was reeled in by Bonello when Formosa set the pace on fire as he dashed off from behind Bonello’s wheel in the final 800 metres.
Bonello promptly relaunched his pace to bridge to Formosa. Galea fell behind suffering from his previous effort while Formosa and Bonello struggled up the final metres of the gruelling Ta’ Pennellu hill.
With just 200 metres to the line Bonello set off his typical explosive sprint to cross the line in 1:26:14. Formosa was second 14 seconds later while Galea finished third just 10 seconds away from Formosa. Danica Spiteri (Team Greens) has found her racing form to win the ladies’ race with Marie Claire Aquilina (Mosta AF Sign Studio) in second place. A credible third place went to Stephania Magri (Melita Pedal Power) who had just returned to racing after a knee injury.
Andre Abela (Mosta AF Sign Studio) had his way among the Juniors followed by Christian Formosa (Melita Pedal Power).
Daniel Callus (Team Greens) was the first Master home followed by Michael Lia (Mosta AF Sign Studio) and Mark Bugeja (Team Greens).
Emanuel Bezzina (Mosta AF Sign Studio) was unmatched among the over 50s with Anthony Borg and Michael Polidano of Qormi KIA just behind.
The Under 15 race was won by James Dimech (Mosta AF Sign Studio) with Daniel Borg (Mosta) and Max Micallef (Qormi KIA) in second and third place.
The race was made possible by the collaboration of the Mellieha Local Council and the Malta Police Corps who controlled the traffic in an exceptional manner, the club and federation officials and the sponsorship of Centrepoint cycles.
In the meantime this coming Sunday the Malta Cycling Federation together with the Malta Sport Council are going to hold a bike ride as part of the sports for all campaign which will start at 9.15am from the Sliema Ferries.
All cycling enthusiasts are urged to attend.