Corbin Strong continued the New Zealand track cycling gold rush by winning the men’s 15km scratch race with a beautifully judged finish.
Strong, 22, was one of three New Zealanders in the race, along with Campbell Stewart and George Jackson.
He virtually sealed a medal after 35 laps when got into a breakaway with John Archibald of Scotland and Will Roberts of Wales. Once the trio put a lap on the field their team-mates would not allow anyone else to catch them, controlling the peloton.
For the final 25 laps there were any number of attacks, bluffs and breakaway attempts.
Finally at the business end of the race, Stewart led out Strong perfectly and Strong swung around and raced away to claim gold.
He was followed home by Archibald, with Roberts third.
Stewart placed seventh and Jackson 10th.
Strong said he’d always dreamed of standing on a podium and hearing the national anthem played in his honour. “This is literally a dream come true,” said the Southlander.
He paid tribute to Stewart and Jackson, who he said rode unbelievably well.
“Going into the race we all felt we were capable of winning it, and we decided we’d let it play out and then support the one who was able to make a break.
“A lot of the field were watching Campbell and George and I was able to sneak off the front. I won the gold but they did a lot of the work for me.”
It was hard to credit, watching Strong in action that at one point his cycling future was despaired of after he suffered a broken spine. However, he fought back so well that he was a world champion in the points race in 2020.
He has spent a lot of this year racing on the roads and felt the strength he has built up helped him over the closing stages when he was able to handle the aggressive challenges of Archibald and Roberts, and their helpers.
Strong’s is the sixth track gold medal of the Commonwealth Games for New Zealand, matching the record haul in Glasgow in 2014.
Besides Strong’s sensational effort, other New Zealanders distinguished themselves.
In the women’s 25km points race, Michaela Drummond was competitive throughout and finished fifth with 27 points, not far off the 33 she’d have needed for the bronze medal. Bryony Botha finished eighth and Emily Shearman ninth, further emphasising the increasing depth of New Zealand women’s track cycling.
Rebecca Petch, the former BMX star, went perilously close to claiming a bronze medal in the 500m time trial. Kristine Clonan of Australia won in 33.234s. Petch was timed at 33.843s, just behind bronze medallist Sophie Capewell of England who recorded 33.5622s.
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