For the second time in his short career as a Tinkoff-Saxo rider, Michal Kolar sprinted to a top 10 finish when he was 8th on the first stage of the Tour de Langkawi. However, the team regretted to have missed the opportunity to sprint for the win.

The 100 kilometres long first stage of Tour de Langkawi was dominated by a breakaway of five riders and since the pack hesitated to initiate a chase, the quintet made it to the finish line. However, Duber Quintero (Columbia) eloped the group close to the finish and they were  unable to catch him again.

Since the Columbian won all three intermediates along the way, he now leads overall with 22 seconds.

Tinkoff-Saxo’s Michael Kolar had hoped to get his chance to sprint for the win but still took part in the sprint for the minor placings. He did well by taking 8th in the bunch kick and finished 8th on the stage to sit 9th overall. 

“We’re all set with a motivated group of young riders who are ready to work hard here in Malaysia," sports director Tristan Hoffman says. "Today was an unusually confusing day in the peloton. A group of five riders escaped after 15 kilometres of racing and no team thought it was their responsibility to close the gap so the break succeeded in going all the way. Michael (Kolar) did a nice sprint and is our rider for the bunch sprints here."

Kolar could get a chance tomorrow when the race continues with another flat stage.