Melita Pedal Power Cycling Club organised its first annual club race last Sunday at St. Paul’s Bypass. The event was sponsored by Bonds Ltd.

The weather was near perfect making the 5.8 km race circuit a fast paced one. Cyclists performed various distances ranging from 29 km to 80 km according to the different age categories.

From the very first 100 metres in the Elite category, in which cyclists had to complete 14 laps totaling 80 km, Adrian Sciberras (Mosta A.F. Sign Studio Cycling Club) attacked the main peloton.

This was counter-attacked immediately by Patrick Scicluna (Melita Pedal Power Cycling Club) and the duo managed to create a small gap on the main group. However Ramon Grech (Qormi KIA Cycling Club) reacted to this breakaway and managed to bridge the gap and join the duo. Back in the main peloton, lots of other attacks by other riders in attempt to reel in those riders back, where unsuccessful.

The successful breakaway managed to create a good lead of over three minutes on the peloton and rode strongly together to the last kilometres of the race. However Scicluna proved to be in the best form when he accelerated in the last uphill of the race, to form a gap and win the race in 2:20:31. Grech followed in second place just nine seconds behind while Sciberras settled for third, 34 seconds after Grech.

In the Under-15 category, cyclists completed 29kms. James Dimech (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) confirmed his ever-improving form in the sport by completing the race 51:20. Team mate Daniel Borg settled for second with a time of 56:18

In the Ladies category, participants completed 46kms over eight laps. Stephania Magri (Melita Pedal Power CC) won the race in 1:24.56 while her team mate Donatelle Callus finished second in 1:31:16.

In the Masters 50+ category, Charles Sammut (Greens CC) won the race in a comfortable advantage of more than four minutes, finishing the race in 1:31:07. Anthony Borg (Qormi KIA CC) finished in 2nd place in 1:35:20 while George Gauci (Mosta A.F. Cycling Club) settled for 3rd in 1:39:47.

The Masters 40+ category was a well contested category with a tight finish where the duo from Mosta A.F. Cycling Club, Nicky Farrugia and Michael Lia finished first and second respectively just eight seconds apart. Charles Demanuele from Melita Pedal Power Cycling Club finished third in 1:35:52.

In the Juniors’ category, the Mosta AF Sign Studio CC rider Andre Abela won his third road race this season, finishing first in 1:42:54 while Chris Formosa (Melita Pedal Power Cycling Club) settled for second in 1:47:41.