Corbin Strong is back.

Southland cyclist Corbin Strong won the Lotto Circuit Franco-Belge on Sunday, ending a difficult start to the season with a powerful sprint finish on Belgian roads.

Strong's victory came after his team controlled the race from the front. Riley Sheehan launched a decisive attack in the final laps that split the peloton, leaving only the strongest riders in contention.

Tom Van Asbroeck and Sheehan then delivered Strong into perfect position for the finale. The Invercargill rider did the rest.

"It's a big relief," Strong said. "It hasn't been an easy start to the season, so to come here and get a win means a lot to me and to the team."

Crashes and illness had derailed Strong's early season form. But recent weeks had shown improvement, and Sunday's performance confirmed his return to competitive fitness.

"We had a plan to make the race as hard as possible before the final lap, and the team did a really strong job," Strong said. "Even when we lost a few riders earlier than expected, the work they had already done made a big difference."

The 25-year-old said fatigue in his legs actually helped in the sprint. "In the end, with some fatigue in the legs, I felt confident I could match the other fast guys. I believed in myself in the sprint and I'm really happy to finish it off."

Strong credited his team's support during the lean period. "They've shown a lot of belief in me, even when the results weren't coming, and it's a really nice environment to be part of. I'm really happy to get this win for them."

Sports director Dimitri Claeys praised the tactical execution. "The guys executed the plan really well today. We wanted to make the race hard and create a selective finale, and the team committed fully to that. Riley's move was key to splitting the group, and from there we could play our cards perfectly for Corbin."

The victory gives Strong momentum heading into his next block of European racing.

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