XDS Astana Team rider Matteo Malucelli took a sprint victory on the final stage of the Tour of Taihu Lake, which concluded today in China. This result allowed Malucelli to strengthen his lead and ultimately win the Chinese stage race overall. The Italian rider of XDS Astana Team also claimed the points classification of the Tour of Taihu Lake. XDS Astana Team won the Team Classification of the race.
For Malucelli, today’s double success marks his eighth victory of the season, while for XDS Astana Team, it is the 31st win of the 2025 season.
“Winning both the stage and the overall classification – not bad for one day! The team worked perfectly, we controlled the race entirely and caught the breakaway at the right moment in the finale. From there, I just needed to deliver a strong sprint. Of course, it was a bit nervous and chaotic because the general classification was still close and seconds were decisive, but in the end, everything went well, and I managed to win. This was my last race of the season, which I finish with eight victories. Now it’s time to rest and recover properly before the new season”, – said Matteo Malucelli.
“I’m proud of our team, which over these past two weeks showed not only strength but also incredible unity and team spirit. The guys raced brilliantly both in Malaysia and here in China. Matteo Malucelli is in top shape, and his overall victory is well deserved. But Aaron Gate and all the other riders gave everything for the team’s success – real champions! For me as a sports director, this is my first overall victory, so I’m really happy with what we achieved”, – said Mark Renshaw, Sports Director of XDS Astana Team.
