Team Greens maintained their stranglehold in the National Time Trial Championships series after Etienne Bonello and Michelle Vella Wood took the honours in the second race held on the Mtarfa Bypass last week.
The participants were engaged in an eight-lap circuit for a total of 21 kilometres.
The organisers had Petra Wiltshire as special guest for the race. Wiltshire is a three-times Masters Downhill world champion while she also held European and British titles in Down Hill Mountain Biking.
In the Elite category, Bonello placed first in 31:53.45, ahead of Keith Galea, of Birkirkara St Joseph, who clocked 32:14.07.
Pro Action All Stars rider Alexander Pettett completed the podium when he crossed the finish line in 32:30.57.
With just one race to go, Bonello is leading the overall standings with maximum points.
In the women’s category, Vella Wood was a clear-cut winner when she completed the distance in 35:36.51. Team Greens team-mate Marie Claire Aquilina placed second, one minute 54.26 seconds behind while Margaret Seguna, of The Cyclist, was third.
In the overall standings, Vella Wood and Aquilina are sharing top spot on 375 points.
The Cyclist’s Nicholas Attard Montaldo won the juniors class in 35:15.93 while Kelvin Goodwin, of Agones SFC, topped the Masters 40+ in 35:26.95.
After the race, Wiltshire distributed medals to all the winners in the various age-group categories in the presence of Malta Cycling Federation president John Zammit and general secretary, Joe Bajada.
The next race on the association calendar is the third and final leg of the Road Race National Championship which will be held in Tal-Maqluba, Qrendi on July 15.
Overall results
Elite (8 laps)
1. E. Bonello (Team Greens) 31:53.45; 2. K. Galea (Birkirkara SJ) 32:14.07; 3. A. Pettett (Pro Action All Stars) 32:30.57.
Ladies (8 laps)
1. M. Vella Wood (Team Greens) 35:36.51; 2. M.C Aquilina (Team Greens) 37:30.77; 3. M. Seguna (The Cyclist) 41:54.31.
Masters 40+ (8 laps)
1. K. Goodwin (Agones SFC) 35:26.95; 2. I. Zammit (Birkirkara SJ) 36:04.18; 3. C. Tabone (Team Greens) 37:16.32.
Masters 50+ (8 laps)
1. S.A. Bell (The Cyclist) 34:30.64; 2. N. Farrugia (Mosta AF) 36:40.29; 3. K. Zammit (The Cyclist) 36:52.02.
Masters 60+ (8 laps)
1. E. Camilleri (Mosta AF) 39:54.45.
Juniors (8 laps)
1. N. Attard Montaldo (The Cyclist) 35:15.93; 2. I. Spiteri (The Cyclist) 38:50.38; 3. G. Camilleri (Birkirkara SJ) 44:17.84.
Under 15 girls (4 laps)
1. K. Spiteri (The Cyclist) 21:36.58; 2. V. Pace Asciak (Mosta AF) 24:55.78.
Under 15 M (4 laps)
1. N. Micallef (Mosta AF) 19:18.96; 2. M. Galea Pirotta (Mosta AF) 20:02.91; 3. M. Zammit (Agones SFC) 20:24.91.
Under 12 girls (1 lap)
1. J. De Giorgio (Mosta AF) 00:05.35; 2. H. Dandria (Mosta AF) Sign 00:06.10; 3. V. Soler (Mosta AF) 00:06.57.
Under 12 boys (1 lap)
1. M. Galea (Team Greens) 00:05.35; 2. I. Bonnici (Agones SFC) 00:05.50; 3. L. Vella (The Cyclist) 00:06.03.