The Malta Mountain Bike Association (MMBA) brought the 2026 mountain bike season to a thrilling close with the National Championships held in Pembroke, where riders battled intense heat and a demanding new course in the fight for national titles.

The Pembroke circuit, introduced for the first time for a national championship event, quickly proved to be a worthy title decider. Competitors faced a technically challenging layout featuring punishing climbs, sharp bends, jumps and fast-flowing singletrack, testing both endurance and skill.

Borg dominates Elite category

In the Elite category, Luke Borg asserted his authority from the opening lap, setting a measured pace that created an early gap over the chasing pack.

Mark Bonnici worked his way through the field to join Borg at the front by the second lap, while Clyve Chetcuti and Andrew Caruana continued to apply pressure from behind.

A crash late in the second lap ended Bonnici’s challenge while he was still in contention at the front, allowing Chetcuti to move into second place. However, a flat tyre on the final lap robbed Chetcuti of crucial momentum, enabling Etienne Bonello to ride through the ranks with composure and consistency to claim second place, 30 seconds behind Borg. Chetcuti finished third.

Aquilina reclaims women’s title

Marie Claire Aquilina returned to the top step of the podium in the Ladies category, reclaiming the national title.

Fiona Tedesco produced a strong performance to secure second place, while Michelle Mifsud completed the podium in third.

Other category winners

Josmar Vella rode a controlled race to win the Sport category, finishing ahead of Kyle Camilleri and Andrew Curmi.

In the 40+ category, Liran Ben-Ari crossed the line first, followed by Gordon Zahra in second and Alex Portelli in third.

Stephen Grima dominated the 50+ category, maintaining a commanding lead to the finish ahead of Carmelo Abela and Ramon Grech.

In the Under-19 Boys category, Andrei Cassone controlled the race from the front to take victory, with Ryan Gatt second and Matthias Abela Criminale third.

Strong performances in junior races

The junior categories produced several exciting contests. Neil Cassar and Katie Anne Vella Wood both impressed in the Under-17 Boys and Under-17 Girls categories respectively.

The Under-15 Boys race was one of the most animated of the day, with Ethan Cumbo and Zach Saliba locked in close competition from the opening lap. Cumbo maintained his lead to claim victory, while Saliba finished second and Jake Said took third.

Kim Micallef Cann won the Under-15 Girls category.

In the Under-12 Boys, Nolan Tabone led the way to the finish ahead of Nick Said and Thomas Bartolo.

The Under-12 Girls race saw Amy Micallef Cann establish a confident lead to take victory, while Ella Jo Falzon produced a determined ride to claim second place.

New Explorers category launched

The championships also marked the launch of the MMBA’s new Explorers category, designed for newcomers to mountain biking and riders with some experience but no previous racing background.

Participants tackled a route tailored to their level, giving them a first taste of competitive mountain biking and an introduction to the sport’s racing community.

Away from the competitive races, the Fun Ride allowed young riders to experience the thrill of mountain biking in a non-competitive environment, sharing the course with other riders their age.

MMBA president praises riders and new course

MMBA President Fiona Tedesco congratulated all participants and highlighted the success of the new Pembroke route.

“Congratulations to all our National Champions and to every single rider who took to the course today — you all deserve credit for what you achieved out there,” Tedesco said.

“Racing in this heat is no small feat, and the conditions today made an already demanding course even more of a challenge. The new Pembroke route brought something fresh to our calendar — it was technical, it was varied, and crucially, it was fantastic for spectators, who could really feel part of the action.”

“This is exactly the kind of racing that showcases what our sport is all about, and I couldn’t be prouder of our community.”

The MMBA extended its thanks to primary sponsors Cisk 0.0 and secondary sponsors Solar Solutions, as well as the Swieqi and Pembroke Community Police for their assistance in ensuring a safe and successful event.