Top honours for Team Greens cyclists in National Time Trial Championships

The Malta Cycling Federation is organising its two championships over a three-race format.

On Sunday, the National Time Trial Championship got under way and Team Greens confirmed the good form their top cyclists are going through when they won the first race at the Salina Coast Road that was held over a 20km route over four laps.  

In a slightly cloudy weather, Etienne Bonello finished first in the elite category, while Marie Claire Aquilina won the women’s class.

Defending champion Etienne Bonello topped the race in a time of 29:57 minutes. Bonello’s team-mate Clive Ebejer was 0.10 seconds behind him, while Mark Bonnici (Agones SFC) completed the podium in 30:02.

The women’s race was dominated by Team Greens cyclists.

Marie Claire Aquilina topped the standings in a time of 33:13 minutes and finished ahead of Juleanne Vassallo (33:35) and Danica Bonello Spiteri (34:38).

Luke Borg, of The Cyclist, won the Under 23 category in a time of 30:20. Stefan Scerri, of Gozo CC, finished in second place with a time of 31:39.

Ivan Zammit, of Birkirkara SJ, won the Masters 40+ category in 30:39. He was followed by two Team Greens cyclists, Nicholas Schembri (31:49) and Gordon Howe (32:18).

Kevin Muscat, of Mosta CC, won the Masters 50+ class in 31:58. He was followed by Enrico Bradamante, of Agones SFC (33:57) and Emmanuel Camilleri of Mosta (36:56).

Mosta’s Jacob Schembri won the Junior Category (30:08). He was followed by Jorgen Reitalu, of Mosta, (33:43) and Darren Sultana, of Gozo CC (34:43).

At the end of these races, John Zammit and Joe Bajada, president and secretary-general respectively of the Malta Cycling Federation, presented the medals to the winners.

The next race on the Malta Cycling Federation calendar will be the first one of the Road Championships at St Martin in St Paul’s Bay on May 22.