In-form Corbin Strong takes second at Circuit Franco-Belge
# Corbin Strong Shines with Second Place Finish at Circuit Franco-Belge
Corbin Strong may have narrowly missed securing his fifth victory in just 20 days during the Circuit Franco-Belge, but his remarkable summer continued as he claimed second place in the uphill sprint at Mont de-l’Enclus on Friday.
Strong, who previously finished third in this Belgian one-day race earlier in the year, was edged out by late attacker Jonas Abrahamsen from UXM. Despite the disappointment of coming so close, Strong’s performance is a testament to his sustained form, following wins at both the [Tour de Wallonie](https://israelpremiertech.com/corbin-strong-takes-first-gc-victory-at-tour-de-wallonie/) and the [Arctic Race of Norway](https://israelpremiertech.com/corbin-strong-seals-arctic-race-of-norway-victory/) within the last three weeks.
“I was coming reasonably fast at the finish line, but yeah, in the final 200 metres I could see that he probably had enough to hold on,” Strong reflected. “It’s a bit gutting to come so close to the win because I felt like I had the legs, but it was a really hot and difficult race out there today. I think everyone in the peloton was struggling more than we expected.”
He further elaborated on the challenging course: “With the hills section starting with like 120km to go, it was always going to be a long and really aggressive final. It was a difficult one to judge for myself, as my strength lies in being in a group at the end. I’m not the one who needs to force the pace on the climbs and try to get away.”
The 25-year-old cyclist demonstrated exceptional speed on the finishing climb, aided by his Israel-Premier Tech teammates. Strong’s teammate, [Floris Van Tricht](https://israelpremiertech.com/rider/floris-van-tricht/), played a crucial role by following a counter-attack and keeping a breakaway group within reach. Van Tricht, alongside [Joe Blackmore](https://israelpremiertech.com/rider/joe-blackmore/), worked hard to shut down a dangerous five-man break led by Abrahamsen 35 kilometers from the finish.
Despite Strong’s impressive sprint in the final 500 meters, the Norwegian rider managed to hold off his competitors to claim victory. “I think I had the legs to follow the attacks on the climbs, but if I followed every move, then I probably wouldn’t have had the legs to go at the finish,” Strong assessed. “In the end, we just misjudged it, and Jonas Abrahamsen was strong enough to stay away. He’s just an incredibly strong rider, and everyone knows if you give him an inch, he’ll take a mile, and he showed that again today.”
As Strong continues to strike form, his future in upcoming races is eagerly anticipated by fans and teammates alike.
