Sport + Motorsport
Corbin Strong continued his excellent run of form on Thursday, winning the opening stage of the Arctic Race of Norway in Harstad. The 25-year-old out-sprinted the field on a short uphill finish, just ahead of teammate Riley Sheehan, to secure his third win in only 12 days.
The victory came hot on the heels of Strong’s stage and general classification triumph at the Tour de Wallonie. Much like his success there, this win was decided on a curving, uphill run to the line. Tom Van Asbroeck provided the perfect lead-out, giving Strong the chance to power home for his best season yet.
“I enjoy the pressure, actually,” Strong said. “I enjoy feeling the pressure of the guys really putting in their best to help me. Obviously, everyone in the sport trains really, really hard, so to see the work my teammates put in and then the way they sacrifice for me in a race, that really motivates me. I really like it when I can pay my teammates back.”
He credited a mid-season reset and training block in Livigno for his current form. “I think we’ve had a really good environment since then, going to Wallonie and getting the win there, and then taking the first stage today as well. So yeah, things are going well, and I’m really enjoying racing my bike at the moment.”
The race’s opening day was marked by cold and wet weather, forcing riders to adapt. “It was really cold and wet,” Strong said. “Slowly, I had to take [my clothes] off, but yeah, it was just doing a long, cold day.”
Sheehan praised the team’s strategy, saying, “We had the right plan to leave it until late and take the corners in the front with Tom – he did a fantastic job with Corbin in the wheel. In the final, I was on Corbin’s wheel – it was the perfect place to be, and I just had to sit back and watch Corbin do what he does best.”
With time bonuses on the line, Strong now leads the general classification by four seconds over Sheehan. Friday’s stage from Tennevoll to Sørreisa is expected to offer another chance for sprinters to shine.
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Corbin Strong Seals Tour De Wallonie Triumph
Kiwi rider Corbin Strong capped a flawless week by claiming his maiden general classification success at the Tour de Wallonie. The 25-year-old began the final 215-kilometre circuit around Bertrix just one second ahead of Mathias Vacek, yet even 3,420 metres of climbing and a late 12-man escape failed to
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