After yesterday's win, Theo Bos had to settle for 2nd in today's third stage of the Tour de Langkawi. The Belkin sprinter admitted that Andrea Guardini had simply been the fastest and deserved the win while the team now switches it focus to Steven Kruijswijk for tomorrow's queen stage.

Theo Bos came up just too short to repeat yesterday’s victory in the Tour de Langkawi. The Belkin Pro Cycling Team rider placed second at the finish line in stage three in Malaysia’s capital city, Kuala Lumpur. Andrea Guardini of team Astana won. 

“There was a gentle curve in the final hundred metres and while I took the inside, Guardini came around and earned a small lead which he was able to protect,” said Bos. “He did well. He deserves to win.

“In the final I had Brownie [Graeme Brown] and we were following some good teams,” he said to Cyclingnews. “In the end we were in a really good position. I tried to go myself, early, but Guardini came inside and had a lot of speed and then for me there was no chance.”

The team worked hard for Bos on the way to Kuala Lumpur. In the final half of the stage – with the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur regularly in sight – the Belkin Pro Cycling Team pulled hard at the front of the pack. The riders helped catch a leading group of five with just 1.5 kilometres to go. 

“The boys had everything under control, but I have to admit that the break-away riders are doing a great job here,” said Sports Director Michiel Elijzen.

A group of attackers already held on in the first day.

“Today was a close call. The fact that we’re here with just six men is an extra challenge as you quickly burn up our your men in the chase.” 

Steven Kruijswijk could rise to the top in tomorrow’s queen stage of the Tour de Langkawi. After a flat run-up, the pack will finish high up in the Genting Highlands at an altitude of 1,600 metres. 

“Steven impressed me during the first three days,” said Elijzen. “He's doing a great job working for Theo in the final kilometres. That says something about how he’s feeling. I’m confident that he can do well in tomorrow’s stage. 

“As a team we will try to see that Steven starts the final climb as fresh as possible then it’s up to him. The climb is a tough one. The final forty kilometres gradually rise but with several plateaus.”