Kessiakoff excels on Genting climb

Sweden's Fredrik Kessiakoff proved his transition from professional mountain biker to professional road racer is on track at stage five of the Tour of Langkawi last week, when he logged a fourth place performance in the race's 102km queen stage.

On the 25km hors de categorie (HC) climb up the Genting Highlands, Kessiakoff showed he had the legs to stay with the race's best climbers. As he climbed, he picked up speed, overcoming several riders in the final kilometers.

The only men he did not catch were the stage's winner and new race leader José Serpa (Diquigiovanni), Australia's Jai Crawford and Venezuelan Jackson Rodríguez. Kessiakoff almost overtook Rodriguez, but he didn't have a strong enough sprint.

Kessiakoff's performance was good enough to put him into fourth place overall for the duration of the race.

See Cyclingnews' full coverage of the Tour of Langkawi.