New Zealand cyclist Corbin Strong of Team Israel Premier Tech on the 2022 Tour of Britain Photo: PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand cyclist Corbin Strong has won the opening stage of the Tour of Luxembourg.
The Israel-Premier Tech rider won a sprint finish to the 156km stage to take the yellow jersey of the overall leader.
The peleton caught a breakaway group with 15km to go on the stage and a group of 42 were in the final climb before a sprint finish.
Strong, a former New Zealand Cycle Classic winner, held on in the sprint to finish ahead of Soren Kragh Anderson and Denmark and Alex Aranburu Deba of Spain.
"It's a really nice feeling winning, the team rode exceptionally today," Strong told the media afterwards.
"I've been in really good shape all season, but never quite pulled off the victory, so it's a really good feeling to get it today."
From the start, Strong knew this stage would suit him, having reconned the course the day before.
"It was a really good stage for me, I knew I would always be on the limit, but if I could suffer and be there at the finish, I would have a good chance at being the fastest guy there."
"It definitely wasn't easy and I had to dig deep in the last climb, but thankfully I was in a good position, and the guys did a perfect job all day and I was able to finish it off."
23 year old Strong, who is a former world champion on the track, made his Grand Tour debut this year on the Tour de France.
The Tour of Luxembourg is held over five stages.