Maltese mountain biker Patrick Scicluna has completed the UCI Mountain Bike Marathon World Championships in the Dolomites, finishing 39th in the men’s M5 category with an official time of 6:03:27.
The 53-year-old A&G Sporting rider spent more than six hours in the saddle as he tackled the Mythos Primiero Dolomiti course in Italy’s Primiero Valley.
Scicluna was one of three Maltese riders competing at the event. Antoine Sultana also raced in the men’s M5 category, while Marie Claire Aquilina took part in the corresponding women’s category.
82 kilometres and 3,400 metres of climbing
The course covered 82.1 kilometres and included 3,400 metres of climbing through the Dolomites. Starting from Fiera di Primiero at an altitude of 720 metres, riders reached a high point of 1,699 metres on the Strada Tognola.
The route took competitors through forest trails and exposed alpine terrain beneath the Pale di San Martino. This year’s edition also saw amateur competitors race on the same world championship course used by the elite riders.
More than four decades of racing
Scicluna has more than four decades of racing behind him and has now accumulated 131 race starts abroad, including 12 multi-day stage races.
His international record includes three appearances at the Giro di Sicilia, two at the Giro di Ragusa and three at the Tour of Cyprus, where he achieved a category podium in 2014. He also recorded category wins at Sicily’s Etna Marathon Tour in 2016 and 2018.
Other events on his record include five editions of the Tour ta’ Malta and the Mediterranean Epic stage race.
Just weeks before racing in the Dolomites, Scicluna partnered fellow Maltese rider Stephen Grima as Team Gaudos at the 2026 Swiss Epic. They finished 10th out of 61 teams in the Grand Masters category.
Looking towards another season
The Dolomites event brings Scicluna’s 2026 racing calendar to a close. He now plans to take some time to rest and reflect before considering his plans for next season.
“My love for mountain biking hasn’t faded with the years, if anything it keeps me going. If my results this year encourage even one other rider to stay on the bike, despite not being as young as they used to be, then that means as much to me as any result,” Scicluna said.
