Strong wins: 'I was really hungry for a result'
Southland cyclist Corbin Strong has won Italian Classic the Giro del Veneto.
Southland cyclist Corbin Strong notched up his second victory of the year when he sprinted to victory in the Giro del Veneto in Italy.
After a hard race in wet conditions, the peloton started to split up on the final laps on the circuit in Vicenza. Strong’s Israel-Premier Tech team mate Marco Frigo was ever-present near the front and part of several moves.
On the last time up the hill, a dangerous quartet got away, but Frigo, riding close to home, was on a mission, and the strong Italian made sure to bring it back together to give his teammate Strong a chance to fight for the win which he did.
The 24-year-old Southlander was motivated to finish the season well.
“The finish was perfect for me, and it’s really a good feeling to get this win today.”
“I was really hungry for a result today, and the team did a great job! I got a little bit boxed in on the technical finish, but I had the confidence to go early, and it paid off in the end. I’m really happy I could finish off the team’s hard work!”
Israel-Premier Tech Sports director Rene Mandri, praised the team’s performance as well, highlighting the hard work by Frigo to set up Strong.
“We knew that the race would accelerate early in the final and end up with in a select sprint if we managed it well”, Mandri explains.
“Marco had to ride the last three laps next to Corbin, to be his shadow and motor at the same time. He did an amazing job doing so and Corbin did a long sprint, which he already planned yesterday evening, going early. Everything just clicked 100% today.”
The victory in Giro del Veneto is Strong’s second win this year and the 27th for IPT in the 2024 season.