Corbin Strong wins scratch race to claim New Zealand’s sixth gold medal in cycling

Corbin Strong fulfilled his childhood dream of standing on top of a podium with the New Zealand national anthem playing after clinching the country’s record-equalling sixth gold medal in cycling at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

The 22-year-old Southlander was the first to cross the finish line in the men’s 15km scratch race at the Lee Valley VeloPark in London after being superbly led out by team-mate Campbell Stewart during a frenetic final of an otherwise cagey and tactical 60-lap event.

Strong was all but guaranteed to win a medal after getting in the decisive three-man breakaway with Scotland’s John Archibald and Wales’ Will Roberts with 25 laps to go.

With riders from the same three countries controlling the main group, Strong, Archibald and Roberts were able to gain a lap on everyone else and it was down to the three escapees to duel it out for the podium places.

“It’s a dream really,” Strong told Sky Sport. “It was the perfect race for me. It was pretty cagey, lots of attacks going.

“George [Campbell] and Campbell also raced really well. It was just an awesome experience actually. I’m really happy to be at my first Comm Games and for my debut race to finish like this is pretty awesome.

“I remember in primary school, dreaming of a moment when they’d play the national anthem, and for me it was representing my country on a stage like this.”

New Zealand has now matched its performance in Glasgow by winning six gold medals in cycling, having done so after just three days of competition.

Sprinter Ellesse Andrews, already a double gold medallist, will be looking to add to the gold rush when she lines up in her favoured event, the women’s keirin on Tuesday morning (NZT).

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