Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1019972
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 29 AUGUST 2018 23 SPORTS CYCLING Answers to the MaltaToday crossword will be published next Wednesday WEATHER: Fine VISIBILITY: Good WIND: Variable force 2 to 3 becoming Westerly overnight SEA: Slight SWELL Negligible A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 White to play and mate in four moves A B C D E F G H 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Last week's solution Sudoku rules are extremely easy: Fill all empty squares so that the numbers 1 to 9 appear once in each row, column and 9x9 box. MAINLY SUNNY 31 º C /22 º C UV INDEX: 8 Today's Weather Chess Sudoku Pursuits Across 3. Academic world (8) 9. Narrow street (5) 10. Acquire (3) 11. New Zealand parrot (3) 12. Defraud (5,6) 14. Meat (5) 16. Drama (4) 17. Summed (5) 19. God-like (6) 20. Drinking vessel (3) 22. Opera by Bizet (6) 23. Former Russian rulers (5) 25. Wind instrument (4) 26. Raw hides (5) 28. At once (11) 30. Storage container (3) 31. Ingot (3) 32. Eccentric (5) 33. Engrossed (8) Down 1. 24 hour periods (4) 2. Body of peers (7) 4. Universal in extent (8) 5. Of delicate beauty (6) 6. Temporary expedient (9) 7. Wide open (5) 8. Pile (5) 13. Made by hand (8) 15. Not normal (8) 18. Bandages (9) 21. Heaven (8) 24. Stopping place (7) 25. Tool used for driving nails (6) 26. Common people (5) 27. Seventh sign of the zodiac (5) 29. Spool-like toy (2-2) e8=Q+ Kf6 (Kh6) Bd4# (Qf7#) ... Kh6 Rh5# (Be3#, Qh5#, Qe6#)) SOME of Malta's top moun- tain bikers will the undertaking the challenging and gruelling Mount Etna Marathon Tour between 4 and 8 September. The Etna Marathon Tour (EMT) is a multi-stage moun- tain bike race that will take place over five days and racing format consists of two-person teams, taking part in one of the five cat- egories. The race only allows for fifty teams to take part and rac- ing will include a time trial and four stages with over 260 kilo- meters of off-road terrain and 8.000 metres of vertical gain. "Whilst the longest distance covered in one day is 68kms, one has to factor in the terrain, single track and volcanic soil, very hard climbs and tricky downhills – and all in all 8,000 metres of vertical gain," said Mark Bonnici. "To put this in layman's terms, this is double what one experiences on road races. Moreover, the terrain does not allow for standing up and getting some respite. This is pure mountain biking." Malta's team, which will join another eight nations and a number of professional riders, will be made up of Mark Bon- nici and Marie Claire Aquilina (mixed category), Brandon Sultana and Andre Meeuwsen (men's category), Anton Mus- cat and Clive Ebejer (Masters 1) while national mountain bike champions Maurice For- mosa and Patrick Scicluna will be partipating in the most com- petitive Category Masters 2. "Apart from the terrain, the two-person race format is chal- lenging in itself, since the team must remain together for the entire length of the race and may not ride more than two minutes apart at any time," said Scicluna. "Both riders must complete the course with no external assis- tance, so they must ensure that any mishaps along the route are fixed between them". This is not the first time that Malta has fielded riders in this challenge. Patrick Scicluna and Maurice Formosa will be re- turning to the field, having pro- duced some very strong results in the past. However, this is the first time that a female cyclist will be taking part. Indomitable Ma- rie Claire Aquilina is expected to give a strong performance. The rest of the team have been building up experience, with their continuous participation in the Malta Mountain Bike As- sociation National Points Series. Enervit Malta will be pro- viding nutritional assistance to the team. The event is or- ganised under the auspices of the Italian Cycling Federa- tion (the FCI) and under UCI rules. The Maltese riders can be followed on http://www.et- namarathontour.it/ Maltese mountain bikers to challenge Mount Etna