The launch of the 2016 Cycling Season kicked off with a mass start race on the Zebbug By Pass organised by Mosta AF Sign Studio Cycling Club and held under the auspices of the Malta Cycling Federation. The race attracted record number of participants, ninety-nine in all, spread across all eight categories. Strong participation was also registered by the Club’s Academy athletes who are being mentored and are considered to have a bright future in cycling.
In the Under 12’s categories, thirteen athletes from the Club’s Academy undertook one lap (4.5km) of the course. Matthew Galea Pirotta (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) outsprinted fellow team mate Miguel Galea to the finish line whilst Tristan Aquilina came in third. It was another close finish for the girls’ category when Kristina Spiteri (The Cyclist) pipped Justine Degiorgio (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) to first place by just two seconds. Mosta AF Sign Studio ‘s Hannah Dandria came in third place.
The Under 15’s Boys podium was dominated by the Mosta club’s cadets after having completed three laps (13.5km) of the course. Gianluca Camilleri emerged the winner following an extremely close finish with James Galea. Nikol Micallef came in third place.
There was a tense fight to the finish in the Masters 40+ category when Patrick Scicluna (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) clinched first place after a hotly contested race with Michael Camilleri (Team Greens) and Ivan Zammit (Birkirkara St. Joseph SC). Zammit had to settle for third place, coming in one second after Camilleri.
In the Masters 60+ category it was an uncontested solo ride for Emanuel Camilleri who completed the 10 lap course in a respectable time of 1:09’55, whilst in the Masters 50+ Michael Lia (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) comfortably took first place followed Gejtu Catania (The Cyclist) in second place.
In the Ladies’ division, there was no contest since participants formed part of the National Cycling team who are currently training for their forthcoming international commitments in Israel in March. The team took the opportunity to use this race as training session on closed roads.
In the Juniors category, current National Junior Road Champion Kurt Muscat (Mosta AF Sign Studio CC) continued to show his prowess by edging away from his adversaries Nicholas Attard Montaldo (The Cyclist CC) and Brandon Sultana (Gozo Greyhounds) a 100 metres before the finishing line and sprinting solo to victory.
A very strong pace made for a very exciting race from the very start of the 22 lap, 99 kilometre Elite course. With cyclists vying for an early breakaway in order to anticipate the group and avoid a sprint finish, it was however a very attentive pack of Mosta cyclists who counteracted well for attacks endured. Drama unfolded two hundred metres away from the finish line when cyclists, battling for a preferred cycling line, to bring their team leader to the finish line, came too close to each other causing a crash and which saw a number of cyclists fall to the ground resulting in a number of injuries. The split second commotion saw Mosta AF Sign Studio’s Pierre Borg emerge victorious by out sprinting veteran cyclists Maurice Formosa (The Cyclist) and Steve Sciberras (Agones SFC) to the finish line and completing the 99 kilometre course in a time of 2hrs 40mins.
“Our thoughts, first and foremost go to the injured athletes, and we take this opportunity to wish them a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, in highly contested races, such as what we had on Sunday, these accidents occur although thankfully they are few and far between”, commented Edward Enriquez, Mosta Cycling Club (MCC) General Secretary. “On a more positive note we are thrilled to see athletes from our Academy come out in full force and perform well, they are the future of our sport and we are doing our best to nurture these talents”.
Mosta AF Sign Studio Cycling Club Committee is grateful to all participants, coaches, marshals, race officials, time keepers, Żebbuġ Local Council, Malta Cycling Federation, Qormi Police Station, Malta Traffic Police, Transport Malta and the Emergency First Response Team who provided medical services for their assistance in the organization of this race.
Elite Cyclist Pierre Borg (Mosta AF Signs Studio Cycling Club) being presented with Elite Catogory Winners’ Trophy
