Three Maltese mountain bike teams are poised to compete in the Andorra Epic, a prestigious four-day stage race beginning on Thursday.
Team Gaudos, Maltese Riders, and Team Gebel u Blat will navigate 204 kilometres of Pyrenean terrain in La Massana, climbing 6,500 metres and descending 7,500 metres across four stages of technical high-altitude riding.
Team Gaudos: Stephen Grima and Diana Muscat
Team Gaudos pairs seasoned Epic Series rider Stephen Grima with Diana Muscat, who is making her mountain bike stage-racing debut. Muscat is an accomplished cross-country rider and current National Champion, with back-to-back wins in the local cross-country series.
Grima brings proven race experience and multiple podium finishes in local competitions, along with Epic Legend Status – an achievement reserved for riders who complete three different Epic races.
“I’m proud to see Diana stepping up to stage racing – it’s rewarding to push riders into this arena and watch them embrace the challenge. I did the same with Brandon Sultana two years ago when we tackled the Swiss Epic in 2024, and now he’s on the verge of becoming an Epic Legend as wel.l” remarked Grima.
Team Gaudos is supported by Extra Karte, Visit Malta, SG Woodworks Ltd, Raico, National Gypsum Limited Malta, Wurth Malta, Pitre Hardware, Lourdes Opticians, JV Pharma, A. Caruana Enterprises Ltd and Xlendi Supermarket.
Maltese Riders: Jeffrey Borg and Antoine Sultana
Maltese Riders marks the team’s first entry into the Epic Series.
Jeffrey Borg and Antoine Sultana have trained together over the past year and tested their synergy through MTB marathons in Sicily and road granfondos.
Both share a passion for stage racing and mountain biking terrain, with Sultana standing out as a particularly strong mountain rider and motivator.
“Our target is to finish strong and enjoy the experience,” said Borg, who will be competing in his second mountain bike stage race.
While Sultana brings more experience, the pair are well-matched in their approach.
“We’ll pace the four days according to our individual strengths and see how it goes day by day,” Borg said.
Recovery between stages will be key to managing the four-day effort without overextending early.
The team is supported by 3CMalta, Medical Care Malta, and Visit Malta.
Team Gebel u Blat: Andrew Caruana and Brandon Sultana
Andrew Caruana and Brandon Sultana have trained and raced together for years.
While this marks their first outing as an official team, Sultana brings substantial Epic Series experience, having completed the Cape Epic twice and the Swiss Epic.
By finishing the Andorra Epic, he aims to bring home the Epic Legend medal.
The pair seized the opportunity to race Andorra after recognising they were both in excellent form and well-prepared for the challenge.
“It’s prestigious to race at this level,” said Caruana.
“Just finishing is a target in itself, but we always aim high for the best possible position.”
The steep climbing throughout every stage looms as their primary challenge. However, years of dedicated preparation have positioned them well: Sultana competed in the Cape Epic as final preparation, while Caruana tackled the Hero Dolomites Marathon.
For Caruana, this is his first mountain bike stage race, while Brandon’s experience will guide their pacing strategy.
“You have to listen to your body, monitor heart rate and power, and remember you have to race again tomorrow,” they note. “It’s about not giving everything in the early stages.”
The team thanks Visit Malta and Wheel Wizard for their support.
What lies ahead
The Andorra Epic promises a rigorous test of endurance and technical skill.
Stage 1 (49km, Pal Arinsal) opens with technical high-mountain riding incorporating sections of the Pal-Arinsal World Cup course and dual alpine descents.
Stage 2 (58km, Canillo) is the most demanding day, reaching 2,350m at Llac de Pessons before finishing with the Beixalís descent.
Stage 3 (52km, Naturland) focuses on sustained descending from Roca de Pimes Refuge through bike park and natural singletracks.
Stage 4 (45km, La Massana) finishes with over 1,000 metres of continuous descent on the Commençal trail.
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