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John Camilleri Claims First Road Race Victory at D Sports Lab Road Race

Last Sunday’s D Sports Lab Road Race brought challenging weather conditions, but the team rose to the occasion and made the effort worthwhile with another strong set of results.

After a tough race and a committed team effort to place him in the best possible position, John Camilleri crossed the finish line first to take his first-ever road race victory. It was a proud and memorable moment for the team, and a well-deserved win after a strong performance.

The success continued in the Masters 40+ category, where Waylon Mifsud claimed his first victory in the category. He was joined on the podium by teammate Ryan Spiteri, who finished in 3rd place after another solid ride.

There was also a strong result in the Masters 50+ category, with Stefan Bonello Ghio taking an excellent 2nd place.

It was a real pity for David Cushing, who looked incredibly strong and was leading the race before suffering a series of punctures. Without that misfortune, the team could have been in contention for victories across the Elite, 40+, and 50+ categories.

Despite the setbacks, the team delivered across the board and was proud to take home the Best Team Award, with the top three Elite riders finishing 1st, 4th, and 5th.

Overall, it was another excellent day of racing, marked by first-time victories, strong teamwork, and resilience in difficult conditions.

Strong Team Showing at the Żebbuġ Bypass Road Race

The team delivered strong performances across the board this morning at the Żebbuġ Bypass road race, which was very well organised by Alexandra Madeley and Mosta Cycling Club. The event formed part of both the Youth National Road Race Championships and the National Club Race Series.

The Under 16 category was first up, with the team represented by Samwel Attard and Gao Ping. Gao narrowly missed out on a podium finish after a tight sprint, taking 4th place in a very well-contested age group. It was a great effort from both young riders.
In the Ladies Open category, Lindsey produced another strong ride and contested the sprint for victory. She was narrowly beaten by the fast Diana Muscat, securing an excellent 2nd place.

The Masters category brought further success for the team, as David Cushing delivered a superb performance despite being sick throughout the week, taking victory in the 50+ category. Kevin Muscat also finished on the podium, claiming 3rd place.
In the 40+ category, Waylon Mifsud came agonisingly close to a podium place in the sprint for 3rd and continues to improve race by race. Kudos also goes to Ryan Spiteri Cassar Ellis, who finished 7th just a few weeks after welcoming a newborn.

The Elite race was always expected to be fiery judging by the start list, and it certainly did not disappoint. Fast and vicious from start to finish, the team tried everything: bridging gaps, getting into breakaways, attacking, and counter-attacking. Every rider played a strong part, and the work paid off with Jacob Schembri narrowly beaten on the line in a three-up sprint, ultimately finishing 3rd.

Daniel came home close behind in 4th, with Pierre finishing 5th after strong work throughout the day. Hats off as well to Aidan and Antoine for a strong race.

A big shoutout goes to John Camilleri and Carl Xerri, who played a huge role in helping place the team’s riders inside the top five through superb teamwork, effort, and commitment throughout the race.

Chapeau also to James Geiger, who was a strong protagonist in his first road race in Malta. After getting dropped, he fought back to rejoin the group before riding away solo afterwards. It was a huge ride and an impressive debut.
Overall, it was a super morning for the team, with strong results, excellent teamwork, and committed performances in every category.

Super proud of everyone. This is why we do what we do.

Żebbuġ Local Council and Team Greens Road Race

The team enjoyed another excellent day of racing yesterday at the Żebbuġ 75km event, organised by Żebbuġ Local Council and Team Greens.

A sincere thank you goes to everyone involved in putting together another safe, fun, and fast race, with special appreciation to Steve Zammit Lupi and Etienne Bonello for their efforts in making the event a success.

The team was delighted to once again play a strong role at the front of the Elite category. Jacob delivered a superb ride to finish in 2nd place, while Pierre and Daniel secured 5th and 6th respectively, giving the team three riders inside the top six.
Lindsey continued her strong momentum from the previous race in Sannat with another impressive podium finish, taking 3rd place in the Ladies category.

There was further success across the age categories, as David Cushing took the win in the 50+ category, while the team’s young riders also delivered excellent performances. Kruiven claimed victory in the Under 12 race, and Gobin took the win in the Under 16 category.

Overall, it was a super day for the team, with strong results across the board and another proud display of teamwork and commitment.

Well done to everyone. ❤️💙

Sannat road race and XC MTB win

The team enjoyed a packed and successful weekend of racing, with riders competing in both mountain bike and road events across Malta and Gozo.

On Saturday, the team was represented by Clyve Chetcuti and Matthew Dalli in Round 1 of the MMBA National Points Series, held in Miżieb. The event proved to be a memorable one, as Clyve delivered an outstanding performance to secure the team’s first-ever XC MTB victory. With a dominant ride and a commanding winning margin, Clyve set a major milestone for the team.
The following day, the team was back in action at the Sannat Criterium in Gozo, a well-organized event hosted by Shamrock Stars. The riders continued the weekend’s strong form with several impressive results across multiple categories.

In the Under 16 category, Gao Ping claimed an excellent second place. David Cushing produced a strong performance to win the Masters 50+ category, while Lindsey Pirotta took victory in the Ladies category, marking her first-ever road race win.
Waylon Mifsud and Ryan Spiteri also put in determined rides in the 40+ category, battling hard throughout the race as they pushed for a podium finish.

In the Elite race, the team faced tough opposition from Antoine Magaud, whose repeated attacks made for a demanding and aggressive contest. Jacob and Daniel worked tirelessly to stay in contention and responded strongly throughout the race. After a hard-fought finish, they were narrowly beaten on the line in the sprint, finishing second and third respectively.
A special mention also goes to John for a solid fourth-place finish, to Clyve Chetcuti for making the trip to Gozo and racing again just one day after his intense MTB victory, and to Carl Xerri for showing up and delivering a strong ride despite being sick throughout the week.

Overall, it was a standout weekend for the team, highlighted by landmark victories, podium finishes, and committed performances across the board.
On to the next.

Coppa Sicilia – Round 1 – Individual Time Trial – Trofeo di Caprileone – 15th March 2026

Bike it Up Racing enjoyed a highly successful trip to Sicily over the weekend, travelling some 600km from Saturday to compete in Round 1 of the Coppa Sicilia, a 20km Individual Time Trial held in Caprileone.

We were the only team from Malta taking part in the event, with Jurgen Casha lining up in the Masters 1 category, while Jacob Schembri, John Camilleri and Daniel Briffa raced in the highly competitive Elite Sport category.

Jurgen Casha delivered an excellent performance in the Masters 1 race, finishing in 2nd place with a time of 27 minutes and 49 seconds. It was a brilliant result for Jurgen, who secured a podium finish in his first-ever Individual Time Trial abroad.

The standout performance of the day came in the Elite Sport category, where Bike it Up Racing achieved an incredible clean sweep of the podium. In a super display by the Maltese trio, Daniel Briffa took victory in 24 minutes and 16 seconds, John Camilleri followed in 2nd place with a time of 24 minutes and 25 seconds, and Jacob Schembri completed the all-Maltese podium in 3rd with a time of 24 minutes and 29 seconds.

To complete the podium in Sicily against international competition marks a major statement from these young athletes and underlines the strength currently within Maltese cycling.

This success comes just one week after Schembri, Camilleri and Briffa combined to win the Team Time Trial in Ħaż-Żebbuġ by a margin of more than two minutes, further confirming their excellent early-season form.

The results in Sicily indicate a very strong start to the 2026 season for Bike it Up Racing. With confidence high, the riders now focus their attention to the 2026 Tour of Malta in April, before later representing Malta, by forming part of the National Team during the season.

Bike it Up Racing hosts successful debut event as Team Time Trial returns to local calendar

Bike it Up Racing successfully organised its first-ever cycling event last Sunday on Mdina Road, Żebbuġ, in collaboration with the Żebbuġ Local Council, attracting more than 80 cyclists across youth and adult categories.

A newly founded sports club focused on cycling and triathlon, Bike it Up Racing has, in just its second season, already cemented itself as one of the leading teams in local cycling. The club has built its reputation through podium finishes, race wins, and a consistently combative and visible racing style both locally and abroad. That strength was also reflected in its home event, where Bike it Up Racing won the Under 16 Boys category through Gao Ping and dominated the Male Open Team Time Trial with a controlled victory by a margin of more than two minutes.

The event featured an Individual Time Trial for youth riders and a Team Time Trial for the female and male adult open categories. The return of the Team Time Trial was particularly significant, as the discipline had been absent from the local cycling calendar for the past two years.

The event was marked by strong participation, competitive racing and smooth organisation, making it a successful debut for Bike it Up Racing as an event organiser.

In the youth Individual Time Trial categories, Raphael Buhagiar of Mosta CC won the Under 12 Boys race in 7:50.22, ahead of Zachary Vella of Mosta CC and Kruiven Farrugia of Bike it Up Racing. In the Under 12 Girls category, Amy Micallef Cann, riding as an individual, took first place in 10:05.50.

In the Under 14 Boys category, Ethan Cumbo of Team Greens claimed victory in 15:02.23, followed by Jake Said and Kurt Grech of Mosta CC. Mickaya Fava of Shamrock Stars won the Under 14 Girls race in 17:00.77, ahead of Kim Micallef Cann.
The Under 16 Boys race was won by Gao Ping of Bike it Up Racing in 25:43.95, with Neil Cassar of Team Greens in second and Tim Buttigieg Scicluna of Mosta CC in third. In the Under 16 Girls category, Nina Debono Curmi of D Sports Lab finished first in 33:20.75, followed by Eliza Vella of Mosta CC.

In the Female Open Team Time Trial, Deborah Schembri and Diana Muscat took victory in a time of 33:20.53. Bike it Up Ladies, represented by Lindsey Pirotta and Pia Grech, finished second, while Jess Rymer and Katinka Zahra Lehtonen, placed third.

The Male Open Team Time Trial was won by Bike it Up Racing in 34:15.10 through Daniel Briffa, John Camilleri, Jacob Schembri and Pierre Borg. Agones finished second in 36:16.01 through Luke Borg, Mark Bonnici and Mark Micallef, while Mosta CC secured third place in 36:28.11 with Clive Bugeja, Andrew Caruana, Etienne Cutajar and Jeffrey Borg.

Bike it Up Racing thanked all participating cyclists, clubs, supporters, officials, volunteers and collaborators who contributed to the success of the event, which delivered a strong turnout and a welcome return of Team Time Trial racing to the Maltese cycling scene.

Season Opener in Safi

The 2026 racing season got off to a strong start yesterday morning in Ħal Safi, as Agones hosted the opening round of the National Club Series. With podiums across multiple categories and four riders inside the elite top ten, it was a statement day for the team right from race one at the Duathlon & Criterium.

The day began with the duathlon, where Keith Galea delivered an impressive performance to claim 3rd place and bring home the team first podium of the season. Momentum carried straight into the criterium.

In the Masters 50+ category, David Cushing took the top step of the podium with a well-earned victory. The team also celebrated success in the Ladies category, where Ilsa won in her first race in Malta, finishing strongly to open her local racing account in style.

The elite criterium delivered another double podium, built on aggressive racing and disciplined teamwork. From the start, the team committed to riding on the front. Matching attacks, shutting down moves, and launching efforts of their own to keep the race selective. That early control paid off when the opportunity came to send John up the road with a decisive, hard-hitting counter attack. Only one rider could respond, the strong French competitor Antoine Magaud. The pair worked together in a powerful breakaway, with John ultimately finishing 2nd after an excellent ride.

Behind them, the race remained chaotic as attacks continued. Daniel dug deep to bridge across to a second group later in the race, covering moves and positioning himself for the finish. He capped off the team elite performance by sprinting to 3rd place, securing the last place on the podium.

Beyond the podiums, the team depth showed clearly in the results. With Pierre Borg finishing 7th and Carl Xerri taking 10th, the squad placed four riders in the top ten, rounding off a complete and convincing team performance.

A big congratulations also goes to the organisers for delivering a well-run event and a great opening to the National Club Series. With a start like this, the team leaves Ħal Safi proud of the effort and motivated for what comes next. Onwards and upwards.

Gran Fondo Città di Ragusa 2025: A Memorable Season Finale

We wrapped up our 2025 season in style at the Gran Fondo Città di Ragusa, delivering one of our strongest performances on Sicilian soil.

Our eight-rider squad faced a tough course and a highly competitive field, including more than 40 Maltese participants, but we rose to the challenge, achieving both individual and team success.

John Camilleri led the way with a brilliant ride, finishing 2nd in the Elite category and 5th overall, narrowly missing the general podium by just two seconds. Jacob Schembri and Daniel Briffa backed him up with 5th and 6th place finishes in the Elite category, giving us three riders in the top ten. Collectively, we secured 3rd in the Team Classification, our first team podium abroad.

On the women’s side, Lindsey Pirotta delivered a landmark result in her first road race abroad, taking 1st in her category.

The race started at a frantic pace, with Jacob and Daniel in the lead group early on. John bridged across to the strongest contenders and rode smartly throughout, timing his moves perfectly and staying in contention until the final sprint. His fifth-place finish highlighted our growing reputation on the international stage.
This result capped a remarkable season for us, marking our second Elite podium in Sicily this year, after a 3rd place in Avola and a 4th place finish in Etna—coming close to podiuming in all three races. Alongside a stellar debut local campaign, Ragusa also gave us our first-ever podium in the Team Classification abroad.

We are proud of how much we’ve grown as a squad this season, showing that a Maltese team can compete strongly against international competition.

With the 2025 season behind us, we’re focused on building momentum for 2026. Daniel, our rider and club secretary, reflected on the year: “We came to Ragusa to finish the season strong, and to bring home results as a team. We achieved both. This is only the beginning. Now we want to broaden our calendar next year to chase even more strong results.”

We can’t wait to see what next season holds.

Team Unveils new look

Our cycling team officially unveiled our new kit during a fun and relaxed dinner hosted by the team, marking the beginning of an exciting period ahead. Proudly sponsored by Bike it Up, with support from our valued partners, the kit features a bold blue and red design that reflects our team’s energy, identity, and ambition.

The new kits were officially presented by team leaders Steve Sciberras and Daniel Briffa, adding a special touch to the evening. Riders were thrilled with both the look and the premium quality of the new gear.

This new kit also marks a symbolic transition, as we move forward with our new branding colours, evolving from the iconic yellow kits that previously represented our former team, Birkirkara St. Joseph. It’s a fresh chapter built on strong roots.

We proudly represented our sponsors on Sunday’s ride and will wear the kit internationally for the first time at the Gran Fondo di Ragusa this September.

Fighting to the Finish at the Maltese Road Race National Championship Finale

The curtain closed on the Maltese Road Race National Championship yesterday at Fleur de Lys, and our team left it all out on the road in a final showdown. With Jacob sitting 2nd and John 3rd in the overall standings going into the race, we knew the odds were stacked against us for a last-minute grab at the championship title. But that didn’t stop our riders from giving everything in pursuit of that slim chance.

Our race plan was clear, keep things under control and aim for a bunch sprint. And that’s exactly what the team executed to perfection. From the gun, our riders worked tirelessly to shut down every attack, including a dangerous two-man breakaway that was reeled back in thanks to relentless work from our guys.

In the closing stages, Matthew and Daniel guided Jacob into prime position for the sprint and he powered across the line in 2nd place after an all-out effort, capping off a great season so far in his first year in our colours. Daniel still managed to finish in 6th, while John’s solid 7th-place finish on the day was enough to secure his top-three standing in the overall championship.

Unfortunately, our designated sprinter Pierre Borg was involved in a crash that dashed his hopes of contesting the finale, something which we all loved to see. We wish him and all those affected a full and speedy recovery. He still fought through to make it to the end of the race.

In the Masters categories, Malcolm Aber finished 6th in the 40+ category, while David Cushing extended his flawless streak with another commanding win in the 50+ race, securing the National Championship title in style.

With the road race series wrapped up, our focus now shifts to the final two rounds of the Time Trial Championship. Our goal remains the same, get our riders into the top three of the National Championship standings and finish our first season together as good as possible. Next up, a time trial back at Fleur de Lys this Sunday.