Theo Bos (Belkin) is simply unstoppable in this year's Tour de Langkawi as the added the 8th stage of his tally by taking another sprint win today. After narrowly avoiding a crash that brought down race leader Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour (Tabriz), the Dutchman held off Andrea Guardini (Astana) and Kenny Van Hummel (Androni) in the final dash to the line while Pourseyedigolakhour defended his lead despite his tumble.

Theo Bos had a number of frustrating days in the Tour de Langkawi when early breakaways stayed away to the finish and he was beaten by other sprinters in the bunch kicks. However, it seems that the Dutchman has finally got the ball rolling towards the end of the 10-day race.

After winning yesterday's stage, Bos was again the fastest when today's 8th stage also ended in a bunch sprint but the finale wasn't without its fair share of drama. With 500m, the riders went through a left-hand corner that caused a big crash which brought down local hero Anuar Manan (Terengganu) and race leader Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour.

Bos almost hit the deck and had to brake to miraculously stay on the bike but his chances to get back to the front now seemed to have been crushed. However, his trusted lead-out man Graeme Brown was quick to react and he managed to bring Bos back in position in time for the sprint to start.

Bos still had enough left in the tank to produce one of his excellent sprint and he held off the only two other sprinters to win stages in this year's Malaysian race, Andrea Guardini and Kenny Van Hummel. As he already won a stage on the second day, Bos has now taken three wins in this year's race which can be added to the two he scored last year before leaving the race due to illness.

Due to the crash, Pourseyedigolakhour had a scare but he seemed to be unhurt when he rolled across the line. As the incident happened inside the final 3km, he didn't lose any time and so keeps his 8-second lead over Merhawi Kudus (MTN-Qhubeka) with just two flat stages to go.

After three very long days, the race ends with two short sprint stages. Tomorrow the rider will travel 109.7km from Bandar Permaisuri to Kuala Terengganu. Two category 4 climbs will be tackled in the early part of the stages but otherwise the roads are flat and it seems to be another guaranteed bunch sprint.

The third long day in a row

After two very long days, there were some tired legs in the peloton when the riders continued their journey through Malaysia with another long stage. The 8th stage brought the riders over 202.6km from Kuantan to Marang along the coast and apart from two early category 4 climbs, it was a completely flat run, making the wind the only possible danger.

The last two days the race has been off to a fierce start and it has taken more than an hour for the breakaway to be established. Today the riders apparently wanted an easier day in the saddle and so it didn't take long for the break to form.

An early break

From the gun, Anuar Manan (Terengganu) and Morgan Lamoisson (Europcar) escaped and they were quickly joined by Elchin Asadov (Synergy Baku), Donaben Goh (OCBC), and Jiang Zhi Hui (Giant). Manan quickly realized that the break would have little chance of success and so he preferred to save himself for a sprint finish in his home area. He was quickly back in the bunch while his four companions continued their effort.

The peloton was happy to let them go and after 6.5km, they were already 40 seconds ahead. Bai Li Jun (Giant) was off in lone pursuit, dangling 40 seconds behind the leaders.

Tabriz lead the chase

The gap to the peloton kept growing and after 23km of racing, the break was 3.10 ahead. Bai kept losing time and was now 2.20 behind and a little later he gave up and fell back to the peloton.

At the 30km mark, the gap was 3.30 and now Pourseyedigolakhour's Tabriz team decided that there was no reason to let things get out of control. The Iranian team hit the front and kept the gap stable between 3.30 and 4.00 for a long time.

Asadov scores points

Asadov continued to score points for the points classification when he beat Goh, Lamoisson, and Jiang in the first intermediate sprint. He was also first across the line on both climbs, beating Goh and Jiang on the first one while their order was reversed on the second one.

The gap reached 4.10 at the 88km mark but then Tabriz decided that it was time to up the pace. After 96km of racing, it was 3.20 and when Asadov beat Jiang, Lamoisson, and Goh in the second intermediate sprint, the advantage was down to 3.05.

Jiang falls off the pace

Bai who had used a lot of energy in his unsuccessful attempt to bridge across, had to abandon the race while his teammate Jiang fell off the pace in the front group. The gap had now come down to 1.55 when 63km still remained.

Malaysia hit the front as they wanted to make sure that local rider Mohd Nur Rizuan Zainal could take 4th in the final intermediate sprint in his home city. They accomplished their mission as Asadov again beat Goh and Lamoisson on the line.

Tabriz back in control

Despite Malaysia's work, the gap had come up to 2.25 but it was now again left to Tabriz to do the work. With 40km to go, they had brought the gap down to 1.55.

Belkin now hit the front as the Dutch team was keen to set up Bos for another win. With 19km to go, the advantage was just 1.05 and this prompted Lamoisson to try a solo attack.

Lamoisson off on his own

Asadov and Goh were caught and despite the Frenchman's best efforts, he could not resist the comeback of the peloton. With Colombia leading the chase, he was caught 11km from the line as it was now full gas towards the finish line.

Belkin decided to shake things up a bit and so they launched Jack Bobridge up the road. He was joined by Juan Pablo Valencia (Colombia) but at the 9km mark, it was back together.

A big crash

Belkin sent another rider on the attack but with 5km to go, it was gruppo compatto and a bunch sprint seemed inevitable. However, the battle between the sprinters was disrupted when a big crash happened just 500m from the line.

While Pourseyedigolakhour and Manan both hit the deck, Bos narrowly avoided the carnage and he managed to return to the front in time for him to take his third win in the race.