CYCLING NEWS - New Zealand's Corbin Strong won the opening stage of Tour of Britain on Sunday following a sprint finish.
Strong won on an uphill climb to Glenshee Ski Centre at the end of a 183.1-kilometre stage which started in wet and windy conditions in Aberdeen, northeast Scotland, as a five-man breakaway was caught with fewer than two kilometres to go by the peloton.
The Israel-Premier Tech rider surged past Omar Fraile in the last few metres to claim victory, with Fraile (Ineos Grenadiers) retaining second place ahead of Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X).
Ineos Grenadiers team leader and Olympic cross country mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock finished fifth.
Strong, whose experienced teammate Alex Dowsett played a leading role in reeling in the breakaway in the closing stages, told ITV4: "It's an awesome feeling, a big relief for me as this year has not gone all to plan.
"There's been a lot of ups and downs but the team has kept believing in me so I'm really pleased to finally prove I can win at this level."
Monday's second stage covers 175.2km between Hawick and Duns in the Scottish Borders.
