
Corbin Strong wins Arctic Race of Norway, secures second UCI title
'The first few laps were even more out of control and harder than I expected. But my team was just incredible today. So to finish it off with my teammates is a really nice feeling.'
Other Kiwis competing included fellow Southland rider Josh Burnett (Burgos Purpellet BH) in 38th, two minutes 32 seconds back, and Dion Smith (Intermache – Wanty) 41st at two minutes 45 seconds, as he prepares for a likely start in the final Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, in two weeks.
Fellow Andorra-based Aaron Gate finished six minutes 36 seconds from Strong in 62nd place, helping XDS Astana to the top team classification.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NZ Herald
3 hours ago
- NZ Herald
Rātana Rugby League Club expands programme after 2024 inception
In March this year, the junior programme was introduced with more than 200 children registering across the seven different age grades from Under-6 to U18. Several of the age-grade teams won their respective competitions in their first season. Herewini's parter, Maria Paul, said the club was made up from players from as far as Wellington, Auckland, Taihape, Waverley, Feilding and Whanganui. 'Rātana isn't just subjected to the people from here, I think a lot of people think you have to be from Rātana or have affiliations to Rātana but it is open to anyone of all ages,' Paul said. Paul said she has noticed a increase of girls that want to play rugby league. 'The age-grade category is a mean platform for them for building a foundation and understanding rugby league and moving into having a stronger senior team,' she said. Paul said Rātana has an abundance of sporting talent, with the women's team consisting of former Queensland Reds player Talia Lawrence, New Zealand Kiwis wider squad member Paris Porche while the men's side are stocked with former NRL contracted players such as Paulie Manuel and Brooklyn Herewini. Paul said the goal for the Premier teams this season is to go up another level with consistency and keep growing, as the Premiership teams have wider squads of 42 for the women and 32 for the men. Paul said funding was one of the biggest barriers to creating a successful rugby league club and said plenty of businesses had backed the club. 'With New Zealand rugby league, money isn't there as much as union and that's one of the biggest barriers we see at our club and in league,' she said. 'All the major businesses are really tapped into the clubs here so that was one of my biggest struggles last year was to find major sponsors to come on board to help ease that burden for our families. 'We've got so many great ideas and people who can execute them well but it's that money to back it up to help us achieve that.' The Premiership season kicked off on August 9, with the men's team losing 42-12 to the Linton Cobras and the women's team winning by default. Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.


Techday NZ
17 hours ago
- Techday NZ
X-League golf finals unite Aussies & Kiwis with tech & team spirit
Nine teams from across Australia and New Zealand will compete in Melbourne this month for the title in X-Golf's X-League, described as Australasia's largest technology-powered golf competition. The event, now in its 14th year, brings together participants from cities including Christchurch, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, and several Victorian regions. Teams are comprised of self-described weekend hackers and more experienced golfers, each with their eyes set on the championship, which will be hosted at a facility in Clyde North, south-east of Melbourne. The X-League was created by Melbourne-based brothers Ben and Charles Styles in partnership with Korean developers. It serves as a platform that blends traditional golf with advanced simulator technologies, such as high-definition cameras, lasers, impact sensors, and infrared systems, to provide accurate shot tracking and realistic play. The competition runs across three 10-week seasons per year, with teams of three contesting nine-hole matches using handicap scoring. Over 1,000 players engage in the league annually through X-Golf's 32 venues spanning Australia and New Zealand. The reach of the X-League is evident in the diversity of its finalists, with teams hailing from Christchurch, Darwin, Perth, Cairns, and other cities. Contestants include workers from various backgrounds, such as tradespeople and office colleagues, reflecting the accessible nature of the competition. "The buzz is real," said Christchurch X-League finalist Justin Salter. "We went from hitting balls after work to preparing to fly to Australia for the Championship. It's certainly the most any of us have achieved in sport and we still can't believe it!" Participation continues to rise in line with broader trends reported by Golf Australia, which noted a 9% year-on-year increase in the sport's uptake. In tandem, the growth of Esports in Australia is notable, with recent market research estimating that the local Esports industry will generate over AUD $200 million in revenue during 2024. The X-League aims to provide an alternative to solitary golf by encouraging team play and competition through digital technology. According to Nick Treble from X-Golf, the league offers an experience that merges the camaraderie of team sports with the realism of advanced simulator technology. "You've got the mate ship of a local footy team, the buzz of Esports and the realism of the best tech currently on the global market," he said. "We're very proud to reimagine the traditional game of golf and to bring the opportunity to get involved to more interested players than ever before." Finalists from Darwin have also highlighted their surprise at progressing through the competition. Terry, a participant from the Northern Territory, commented on the surreal experience. "We're what you'd call the quintessential Aussie hackers," Darwin X-League finalist Terry laughed. "Every time we say it out loud, we still can't believe we won this thing and that we're heading off to represent the NT." This year's championship prizes are valued at AUD $20,000, with winners also set to receive a trip to the Barnbougle Dunes Golf Links in Tasmania. The championship event is scheduled for the last week of August, with venues located in various urban and regional areas, including Townsville, Toowoomba, Marion, Balcatta, and Launceston, as well as Christchurch and other locations in New Zealand. X-League's continued expansion suggests ongoing interest in combining traditional sports with modern digital experiences, and the league's organisers report strong engagement from both recreational and competitive golfers.

RNZ News
19 hours ago
- RNZ News
Kiwis dominate Asia underwater hockey champs
New Zealand's Men's Masters, Women's Masters, Elite Women and Elite Men squads celebrate their medal-winning performances at the inaugural ICC in Kuala Lumpu. Photo: supplied New Zealand's underwater hockey side has made history at the inaugural World Championship regional qualifiers in Malaysia. The Kiwis featured in four finals in Kuala Lumpur, prevailing in three, to dominate the Asia-Oceania Inter-Continental Championships (ICC). While Underwater Hockey World Championships have been held since the 1980s, this was the first time a formal regional qualifier was staged. The ICC was introduced in response to the sport's rapid global growth and increasing participation, particularly across Asia-Pacific. The New Zealand Men's Masters, Elite Women (Silverfins) and Elite Men (Blackfins) all brought home gold, while the Women's Masters secured silver. President of Underwater Hockey New Zealand Lisa McCosh said the sport was going from strength to strength in Aotearoa. "The athletes' extensive training prepared them for the gruelling final games against Australia, which were incredible to watch. In particular, the two elite finals that went into overtime displayed an impressive level of athleticism." The event saw the Brosnans of Nelson compete across three divisions. Rebecca and Bruno Brosnan, both Masters players, competed alongside their daughter Chantal in the Elite Women's team. Chantal's team not only claimed ICC Champion honours, but also played what is believed to be the longest sudden-death match in international underwater hockey history. The ICC marks a significant shift for the sport, with countries including Malaysia, the Philippines, China, and Singapore building stronger competitive pathways. Elite Men's Coach Emma Rae said it marked a moment about more than just medals. "It's about sharing our love for the game and helping it grow globally." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.