Three Maltese teams successfully completed the demanding opening stage of the Andorra Epic, tackling a challenging 49-kilometre route from Pal Arinsal to La Massana featuring 1,440 metres of climbing and 2,100 metres of descent.
Stage 1 tested riders with technical high-mountain terrain, including sections of the renowned Pal Arinsal World Cup course and two long alpine descents that demanded both endurance and technical skill.
The standout Maltese performance came in the Mixed category, where Team Gaudos, comprising Stephen Grima and Diana Muscat, finished an impressive seventh out of 21 teams. The race marked Muscat’s debut in a multi-stage mountain biking event.
Reflecting on her performance, Muscat said she was delighted with the team’s start.
“We rode really well today and I’m really happy. I’ve never seen trails like theseโbreathtaking scenery, and it turned out to be a highly technical day. I felt strong, and Stephen encouraged me throughout. Today’s result bodes well for the stages ahead. Here in the Pyrenees, you just have to soak in the majesty of the place.”
In the Masters category, Team Maltese Riders, made up of Jeffrey Borg and Antoine Sultana, crossed the finish line in 31st place out of 56 teams. The pair worked effectively together throughout the stage, with Sultana supporting Borg on the demanding climbs before Borg capitalised on his descending abilities.
“The climbs were demanding, but we paced ourselves well with the remaining stages in mind,” Borg said.
Meanwhile, Team Gebel u Blat, featuring Andrew Caruana and Brandon Sultana, finished 18th out of 51 teams in the Open Men’s category.
“The race went well for us,” Caruana commented. “There were steep climbs and very technical descents full of loose rocks and debris. We’re happy with today’s performance. We always kept in mind that there are still three more days of racing ahead, so it was important to look after ourselves and the bikes.”
The riders now turn their attention to Stage 2, regarded as the toughest day of the event. The 58-kilometre route starts and finishes in Canillo, climbing to 2,350 metres at Llac de Pessons before concluding with the demanding Beixalรญs descent.
Team Gaudos is supported by Extra Karte, Visit Malta, SG Woodworks Ltd, Raico, National Gypsum Limited Malta, Wurth Malta, Pitre Hardware, Lourdes Opticians, JV Pharma, A. Caruana Enterprises Ltd, and Xlendi Supermarket. Team Maltese Riders receives support from 3CMalta, Medical Care Malta, and Visit Malta, while Team Gebel u Blat is backed by Visit Malta and Wheel Wizard.
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