• Corbin Strong claimed his first 2025 win with an uphill sprint in Belgium.
  • IPT controlled the race pace, showcasing teamwork that secured Strong’s overall lead position.
  • The Kiwi now leads the general classification by four seconds ahead of Rasmus Tiller.

Corbin Strong began his 2025 cycling season with a strong start, winning the opening stage of the Tour de Wallonie on Saturday. The New Zealand rider powered to his fifth career victory, delivering for IPT on the uphill finish in Nassogne.

The 183-kilometre stage saw IPT take charge early, with Israeli champion Oded Kogut and recent graduate Floris Van Tricht keeping the peloton in check. Their efforts neutralised the five-man breakaway that had formed earlier in the race. The final attacker, Ludovic Robeet from COF, was caught just over two kilometres from the finish line.

Strong launched his decisive sprint with 200 metres to go, pulling ahead of the pack and leaving rivals unable to respond. The win not only gave him the stage but also the leader’s jersey. His bonus seconds put him four seconds ahead of Rasmus Tiller, with Anders Foldager another two seconds behind.

Reflecting on the team’s effort, Strong said: “I felt very fortunate to ride with this group, everyone was committed and believed in me. I enjoyed today a lot and it’s a great feeling to pay the guys back for their work today.”

Looking ahead, he added: “Hopefully we can carry this momentum through the rest of the week and continue to show how strong we are as a team.”

Share this article
The link has been copied!