Win after photo finish tastes bittersweet for Malucelli

Staying calm: Matteo Malucelli (centre) refusing to celebrate until the results were official during Stage 3.— MUHAMAD SHAHRIL ROSLI/The Star

PASIR PUTEH: It was a bittersweet victory for Matteo Malucelli, who admitted to feeling both joy and guilt after winning Stage Three of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Gerik to Pasir Puteh on Monday.

The gruelling 198.2km race was filled with challenges and ended in a dramatic bunch sprint that required a photo finish to determine the winner, with many initially thinking Norwegian legend Alexander Kristoff had taken the stage.