NEW Zealand’s Corbin Strong won the first stage of the AJ Bell Tour of Britain to claim the leader’s red jersey.

Strong won an uphill sprint to Glenshee Ski Centre at the end of a 183.1-kilometre stage which started in wet and windy conditions in Aberdeen and saw a five-man breakaway finally caught with less than two kilometres to go.

The Israel-Premier Tech rider surged past Omar Fraile in the last few metres to claim victory, with Fraile (Ineos Grenadiers) holding on to second ahead of Anders Halland Johannessen (Uno-X).

Ineos Grenadiers team leader and Olympic cross country mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock finished fifth.

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Strong, whose team-mate Alex Dowsett played a key role in reeling in the breakaway in the closing stages, told ITV4: “It’s an awesome feeling, a big relief for me as this year has not gone all to plan.

“There’s been a lot of ups and downs but the team has kept believing in me so I’m really pleased to finally prove I can win at this level.”

Today’s stage covers 175.2km between Hawick and Duns.