Commonwealth Games track gold medallist Corbin Strong has extended his success to the road with victory in the opening stage of the Tour of Britain.
Racing for his Israel Premier Tech team, the Kiwi speedster has outsprinted his rivals to chalk up his most significant win at this level, heading the 181.3km undulating journey from Aberdeen that culminated in a climb to the Glenshee Ski Centre.
Besting the bleak Scottish weather, Strong, 22, had too much for Spaniard Omar Fraile over the closing stages to snatch the leader's red jersey.
"I've been wanting to win at this level on the road for a long time," he said. "I always believed I could, but it hasn’t been smooth sailing, so to get it is a massive relief, really just to prove to myself and prove to my team that I can race at this level.
"I always really enjoy racing in the rain actually. I come from Invercargill in New Zealand, right down the bottom, and it’s very similar to Scotland actually.
"It felt like home, racing in conditions like this, and really suited me well."
Strong is a former world champion in the points race and a junior champion in the teams pursuit, but his best road results have come at familiar NZ events, winning stages at the Tour of Southland and general classification at last year's NZ Cycle Classic.
The peloton worked hard to haul back a five-man breakaway, before Israel Premier Tech and Fraile's INEOS Grenadiers set the contest up for a sprint finish.
"The break looked like they could have gone all the way, but then the team - and Alex Dowsett in particular - did an awesome job in the closing few kilometres," said Strong.
He will now try to defend the jersey over stage two of eight - another undulating journey of 175.2km from Hawick to Duns.
