(Quebec) Announced since the beginning of the week as the designated leader of Israel-Premier Tech, sometimes in front of questioning looks, Corbin Strong proved to live up to expectations by finishing second in the Quebec cycling Grand Prix, Friday after- noon.
Only the young Belgian Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Dstny) overcame the 23-year-old New Zealander, who held off third-placed Australian veteran Michael Matthews (Jayco AlUla).
The day before the race, Guillaume Boivin had even predicted to Hugo Houle that these three men would be on the podium.
“We knew what he was capable of,” assured Boivin, 41st and still the best Canadian in Quebec.
Grateful for that confidence and the pressure that came with it, Strong was pleased to have been able to reward his teammates and employers.
“It’s a big result for me,” the Kiwi said. I raced at a good level this year, but I was missing a top result like that. It’s really good to get it here in Quebec. It’s a special race for the team and I’m very happy. »
Strong benefited from the experience of his Canadian colleagues like Boivin and Hugo Houle (50th, 13s), who put him in a good position before the final ascent of the Côte de la Montagne, the main difficulty of the circuit located at just under four kilometers from the finish line.
“We managed it well,” analyzed Houle, “a little limited” on Friday.
“I think he stayed on my wheel the whole last lap. I managed to place it top 5, top 10 at the foot of the Côte de la Montagne. I said, “Let’s go, Corbin!” I was a little tired of the efforts I had made. I’m happy to know that Corbin managed to get the podium. This is important to us, especially here at home. It’s mission accomplished. »
Michael Woods (49th) was a key part of Strong’s second-place finish, which he led to the race lead with some 800m to go.
“I am very proud of Corbin’s performance when he had all the pressure of the team on his shoulders,” commented the stage winner of the last Tour de France. Personally, I felt good and it tells me that I’m ready for Montreal [Sunday]. »
Another learning for Strong: he was the subject of a murderous glare and nods from two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe (9th). The cause: He had left a gap in the line when the peloton was going hard with three laps to go.
“There was a bit of carnage in the feed zone and I almost hit the wheel of the guy in front of me,” Strong defended. This obviously made me brake and there was a small gap in front of me. My approach was to close it quietly rather than sprint. I didn’t plug the hole fast enough and he is an experienced runner. I apologize to him for not doing it as quickly as he wanted. »
Assuring that it was “nothing personal,” Corbin Strong reiterated that he was “young and learning.”
Will his second place finish earn him greater respect among his peers? “Everyone should have the same respect. No one is bigger than the others in the peloton. I don’t think it’s a good thing to attack a runner just because he’s not winning a race. For me, it won’t change anything. My second place just gives me confidence in my ability to fight for victory. »
Even if he did not have the legs to aspire to the desired top 20, Pier-André Côté played his role as leader of the Canadian national team to perfection. The cyclist from Lévis was one of the last to hang on to the leading peloton at the sound of the bell announcing the last of the 16 laps of the event. He eventually finished 66th, 1:27 behind the winner.
Côté praised the bravery of his young teammate Félix Hamel, who tried everything to join the breakaway, before getting up. In his first start in a WorldTour level event, the 19-year-old athlete from Sainte-Julie retired before the end of the event.
“It was still tough and we missed the mark as a team,” Côté said. It was Félix Hamel who went there. It was brave, it had to be done. We have no choice but to be in front and at least try. He paid for it later, but it’s to his credit for trying. »
