Corbin Strong finished off an impressive team performance by sprinting to victory on the uphill finish in Giro del Veneto.
“I have been very motivated to finish the season in a strong way,” the 24-year-old Kiwi said after the win. “The finish was perfect for me, and it’s really a good feeling to get this win today.”
After a hard race in wet conditions, the peloton started to split up on the final laps on the local circuit in Vicenza. 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.
Strong: “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!”
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.”
Today’s victory in Giro del Veneto is Strong’s second win this year and the 27th for IPT in the 2024 season.
