A great leaves the stage: Alexander Kristoff ends his career after crashing in Malaysia

Alexander Kristoff has had to end his career as a professional cyclist prematurely after a crash at the Tour de Langkawi in Malaysia. The 38-year-old Norwegian from the Uno-X Mobility team crashed around 110 kilometres before the finish of the seventh stage and was unable to continue the race. Kristoff had actually planned to end his career after the eighth and final stage in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday. The four-time Tour de France stage winner suffered injuries to his hand and arm in the crash, which made it impossible for him to continue. The Norwegian had travelled to Malaysia with the aim of crowning his career with a 99th or even 100th professional victory. He came very close to this goal on the third stage when he was only narrowly defeated in a photo finish by the Italian Matteo Malucelli (XDS Astana Team).

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An impressive career

Alexander Kristoff has achieved numerous significant successes in his 18-year professional career. His biggest victories include his triumph at Milan-San Remo 2014 and victory at the Tour of Flanders 2015. He also won four stages at the Tour de France and numerous other races. Kristoff began his professional career in 2006 with the Glud & Marstrand Horsens team and later rode for teams such as BMC, Katusha and UAE Team Emirates before moving to the Norwegian team Uno-X in 2022. The Norwegian was known above all for his sprinting prowess and his ability to take victories even in difficult conditions and after long races. His consistency was particularly impressive: Kristoff was one of the best sprinters in the world for many years and was still able to win races even at an advanced age in cycling, as his home victory in the Arctic Race of Norway this year proved.

Future plans

The crash that ended Kristoff's career happened on a straight section of road in dry conditions. Despite the unfortunate end to his career, Alexander Kristoff is looking positively to the future. The Norwegian had already declared before the race that he wanted to take some time out. He and his wife are expecting their fifth child in February. It remains to be seen whether he will remain involved in cycling in another capacity.

There was also a special farewell honour with the entire peloton lining up. However, the injured Kristoff was ridden and did not roll between the spinning wheels on his own bike as usual.