Corbin Strong returned to winning ways with a powerful sprint victory at the Lotto Circuit Franco-Belge, capping off a strongly executed team performance on Belgian roads.
The race was shaped by aggressive and controlled riding from the team, with a decisive move coming in the final laps. A strong attack from Riley Sheehan split the peloton, creating a selection that left only the punchy sprinters in contention for victory.
With the race reduced and the pace high, Tom Van Asbroeck and Riley Sheehan delivered Strong into the finale in the perfect position. From there, the New Zealander did what he does best — finishing it off with a decisive sprint to the line.
Strong said: “It’s a big relief. It hasn’t been an easy start to the season, so to come here and get a win means a lot to me and to the team.”
After a challenging first part of the year, affected by crashes and illness, Strong had shown good condition in recent weeks, and this performance confirmed his return to form.
“We had a plan to make the race as hard as possible before the final lap, and the team did a really strong job. Even when we lost a few riders earlier than expected, the work they had already done made a big difference.”
“In the end, with some fatigue in the legs, I felt confident I could match the other fast guys. I believed in myself in the sprint and I’m really happy to finish it off.”
“They’ve shown a lot of belief in me, even when the results weren’t coming, and it’s a really nice environment to be part of. I’m really happy to get this win for them.”
Sports Director Dimitri Claeys said: “The guys executed the plan really well today. We wanted to make the race hard and create a selective finale, and the team committed fully to that. Riley’s move was key to splitting the group, and from there we could play our cards perfectly for Corbin.”
The result marks an important step forward for Strong as he builds momentum towards the next block of racing, delivering both confidence and confirmation of his form.