Alexander Kristoff’s cycling career ended prematurely on Saturday (4 October) when he crashed during stage seven of the Tour de Langkawi and had to quit his final race.
The Norwegian was seeking a historic 100th career victory in Malaysia but was forced to sign off after going down midway through stage seven on a straight road along with his UNO-X mobility teammate Erlend Blikra.
Kristoff, 38, who had combined 98 wins seemed to be in pain as he tried to get back on his bike, and was forced to end his chase with 110km to go.
“Its not the way I wanted to end the race or the career but cycling is a brutal sport and it changes fast,” he said in an interview with his team.
“Yesterday I was sick, today I felt a bit better but then I go down very hard. That’s life but i will not dwell too much about it … life goes on. I had a good time here until the crash.”
“I kind of lost my handlebar at full speed, 50, 60k. It was the waste zone and I went to take a gel, just to throw it away in the waste zone after consuming it so I’m with my hand back in my pocket and suddenly there is a patch on the road, in some bad condition.”
“So just when I’m not watching the road, and with one hand on the handlebar, I hit bad tarmac and I think my handlebar just turned and I flew over or I lost the handlebar. I’m not sure – one of two.”