We kicked off our local racing season with a strong performance in the first race of the year, held in Zebbug. The course was a 7.5km loop, raced over 10 laps for a total of 75km.
From the very start, our team showed we meant business. We set a fast pace in the first hour, making the race hard for everyone else. Daniel Briffa led from the front, helping us control the race and cause splits in the bunch at every technical corner. Matthew Portelli began testing the competition with a few early attacks.
The key moment came around 35km into the race. After a fast left-hand turn onto the back straight, a small gap opened. Daniel made the most of the moment and helped Jacob Schembri break away. Jacob rode solo all the way to the finish for an impressive win.
Behind him, John Camilleri and Matthew Portelli did a great job controlling the chase. In the final kilometre, team debutant Pierre Borg launched a strong attack and secured 2nd place. It was a dream 1-2 finish for us in our first ever race.
Matthew just missed the podium in a tight sprint for 3rd, with John finishing close behind. This meant we had four riders in the top 7.
Brandon Abela, Chris Buhagiar, and another debutant, Mark Scicluna, all put in solid rides to complete a strong team showing in the Elite Category.
We also had great results in the Masters categories. In the 50+ category, David Cushing won and Kevin Muscat finished 3rd, giving us a double podium. Malcolm Aber also raced well in his first outing in the 40+ group.
It was a great start to the season, and we’re excited for what’s to come! Our next race is the Tour of Malta, which will take place from the 25th to 27th of April. We’re looking forward to keeping the momentum going and putting in another strong team performance.