Matteo Malucelli pips Alexander Kristoff in tight battle on Le Tour de Langkawi stage 3 after field largely reforms after spate of early climbs through the jungle

Matteo Malucelli (XDS-Astana) sprinted to victory on stage 3 of the Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi, capturing his second win of this year’s race by just thwarting Alexander Kristoff (UNO-X Mobility), the retiring rider ever so close to capturing his 99th career win,

Kristoff’s teammate Eriend Blikra claimed the final spot on the podium in Pasir Puteh after a day that tested the legs of key sprinters in the early stages by throwing in an early cluster of categorised climbs as the race moved through jungle territory in Malaysia.