• Paris Olympic road races showcased challenging courses around iconic landmarks and tough weather conditions.
  • Kiwi cyclists faced various challenges, with Corbin Strong and Niamh Fisher-Black delivering notable efforts.
  • Strong extends contract with Israel – Premier Tech, aiming for more victories and future Grand Tour success.

Kiwi cyclists faced mixed fortunes in the road races at the Paris Olympic Games, set against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower. The men tackled a gruelling 272km course, while the women raced over 150km, both routes extending to Versailles and back with demanding city loops and climbs in sweltering heat.

In the men’s race, Corbin Strong finished 27th, just under three minutes behind the winner, the talented 24-year-old Belgian Remco Evenepoel, who made a remarkable solo breakaway in the final laps. Laurence Pithie, another Kiwi, finished 39th. The lack of race radios, a crucial tool in professional cycling, added to the challenge. Strong reflected, “I thought I was at the back of the peloton fighting for third but expected we were a lot closer to the front than we were. It is quite tricky without race radio.”

Despite the disappointment, Strong described the experience as an honour. Both riders have little time to rest as they prepare for the Vuelta a España, the final Grand Tour of the year, in just two weeks.

Niamh Fisher-Black had high hopes for the women’s race but was caught behind a crash on the first climb. This incident blocked the narrow road, allowing only one rider to rejoin the lead group. Fisher-Black finished 31st, with teammate Kim Cadzow in the second peloton. The race saw an unexpected victory from former USA share trader Kristen Faulkner. Fisher-Black commented, “I was disappointed because I felt I had good legs today and came in with good form.”

Share this article
The link has been copied!