Top Podium placing for Clyve Chetcuti, Diana Muscat in Race 4 of Cisk 0.0 XC National Point Series
The Malta Mountain Bike Association recently hosted a weekend bonanza of mountain bike competitions when it hosted the second race of the Downhill Series and the fourth race of the Cisk 0.0 XC National Point Series.
Cross Country National Point Series
The heavy downpour that hit Malta on the morning of the Cross Country race gave an increased challenge to the riders who had to contend with slippery and muddy paths along the way.
Clyve Chetcuti, who also won the previous race in Gozo, was vying for a back-to-back win, whilst at the same time contending with a determined Luke Borg who was trying to make up for his disappointing result in Gozo.
Despite taking the lead in the start, two flat tyres put paid to Borg’s participation on the day leaving the way open for the usual suspects – Stefan Scerri, Brandon Sultana, and Mark Bonnici to battle it out on the six-lap course.
Ultimately, it was Chetcuti who prevailed garnering valuable points for the final classification. Second and Third places went to Stefan Scerri and Brandon Sultana.
The latter registered a faster first lap, however, Scerri picked up the pace to overtake and take second place.
The next hotly contested Category was the Sport Category, with Darren Sultana maintaining the lead from the first lap followed by Jesmar Vella and Keith Bartolo.
In the 40+ Category Stephen Grima took the lead in the first lap but eventually had to settle for third place behind Joaquin Rojas who set the pace for the group.
In second place was Bernard Micallef Cann who took his first podium place for the series. Enrico Brandamante won the 50+ category ahead of Carmelo Abela and Ethan Salter.
Diana Muscat and Fiona Darmanin completed the females’ podium in first and second place respectively.
There was good participation in the youth categories. Justin Micallef was the only rider to complete the U19 course. In the U17 Boys race, Ryan Gatt, Chylen Fava, and Nathan Goodhand made up the podium, whilst, in the U15 Races, Liam Daly, Neil Cassar, and Leo Buccheri took the trophies home.
Nina Debono Curmi continued her solid performances with a win in the U15 Girls category followed by Zia Fuji and Katie Vella Wood.
The U12 Boys and Girls podiums were taken up by Jake Said, Ethan Cumbo, Oliver Buccheri and Mikela Ann Spiteri, Kim Micallef Cann, and Mickaya Fava respectively.
Before the final race of the Series, overall standings see Clyve Chetcuti (Elite), Darren Sultana (Sport), Stephen Grima (40+), Carmelo Abela (50+), and Diana Muscat (Ladies) in the lead.
Official Classification can be viewed via this link https://my.raceresult.com/2306 23/#0_7903C0
The Cisk 0.0 XC National Points Series is sponsored by the award-winning alcohol-free beer Cisk 0.0, Gatorade, and San Michel and is supported by IDMatch Bike Lab.
Downhill Series
The second race of the downhill series took place in the Kunċizzjoni area in Mgarr.
Split over three categories, Elite, Sport Category 1 and Sport Category 2, the riders, had to cover a point-to-point course, over a mixture of rough terrain and stair sets in the fastest time possible after which riders were allocated to one of the three categories based on their best qualifying run.
Elite
1st Nic Hamilton 2nd Keith Bartolo 3rd Eric Baroli
Sport Cat 1
1st Jakeen Galea 2nd Victor Bajada 3rd David Micallef
Sport Cat 2
1st Hesron Sammit 2nd Johan Zammit 3d Paul Grima
The next events to be hosted by the Malta Mountain Bike Association will take place on Sunday 14th May when the final race of the Cisk 0.0 XC National Point Series will be held at Majjistral Park.
The Downhill National Championships will take place later on in October.