Bonello sprints to victory in Żurrieq race

The Road Race Championship came to a close earlier this month with the third and final race in Żurrieq over a distance of 90 kms.

As expected, the pace was nervous from the first pedal strokes as defending champion Etienne Bonello (Team Greens) was seriously challenged for the title by Maurice Formosa (Melita Pedal Power).

Both riders relied on the back-up of a strong team as they battled each other over the Tal-Maqluba uphill.

Various riders lost ground on this incline and in the final lap only the likes of David Galea (Qormi Kia), Adrian Sciberras (Mosta AF Sign Studio) and Tamas Kelecsenyi (Team Greens) could keep up with the pace of Bonello and Formosa.

In the end, the tireless Kelecsenyi proved to be the winning card for Bonello as the Hungarian became the perfect lead-out man for his team-mate to outsprint all rivals and win the race and overall title.

Formosa finished second with Sciberras, Galea and Kelecsenyi following home in that order.

It was a good day for Team Greens who won six out of eight categories contested with Mosta riders claiming the other two.

Marie Claire Aquilina (Greens) won the women's race ahead of Debbie Seychell (Qormi) and Marcel Chircop (Greens) while James Dimech was the fastest junior. He was followed by Mosta team-mate Daniel Borg.

In Masters, it was Brian Magri (Greens) who led the race followed by Cliff Micallef and Joe Mallia (Qormi). Lino Fabri (Greens) managed to beat Emanuel Bezzina (Mosta) in the Over 50 group as Charles Sammut (Greens) finished third.

Michael Polidano (Greens) topped the Over 60 category in front of George Abela (Qormi) and George Gauci (Mosta).

Bernard Azzopardi (Team Greens) had another superb ride by winning the race for U-15s. Max Micallef (Qormi) was second and Carl Xuereb (Mosta) third. Martina Sciberras (Mosta) was the first U-15 rider home in the girls event. She was followed by Michaela Galea (Qormi).

The Malta Cycling Federation was assisted by the Malta Police, St James Ambulance and a host of volunteers.

The next competition will take place on Sunday at Ta' Penellu with the final round of the Time Trial Championship.