Corbin Strong enjoys breakaway experience in Tour of Norway, narrowly misses victory

Corbin Strong was a standout rider in the breakaway during the final stage of the Tour of Norway, but the group was caught just moments before the finish line. Despite the disappointment, Strong expressed his enjoyment of the experience.

With a lead of over two minutes with twenty kilometers to go, Strong believed the breakaway had a chance. He said, “That’s when I thought we might have a chance.”

However, it was not until two kilometers remained that Strong was caught. Reflecting on the close call, he remarked, “If we would have had ten or twenty seconds more, we might have made it to the line.”

Despite the disappointment, Strong admitted he didn’t have the energy for a final sprint. Fellow rider Tom van Asbroeck, who had previously finished on the podium in the same stage, also fell victim to unfortunate crashes. In the end, it was Carl Fredrik Hagen who crossed the line in the peloton.

Nevertheless, Strong emphasized the enjoyment he had in the breakaway, stating, “I had fun. It was nice to be in the breakaway today and it was interesting to battle till the end of the stage.”

Hagen, who secured a top-10 finish in the general classification, also expressed satisfaction with his performance in his home country. He said, “It was nice to race in my home country and I am happy with my top-10.”