Track cyclist Nikita Kiriltsev sprinted on foot, in cycling cleats, across the finish line to qualify for the men’s keirin at this weekend’s UCI Track Cup.
Kiriltsev, who is competing as a neutral athlete under UCI rules, was among six riders caught in a heavy crash during the seven-man heat.
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France’s Tom Derache, who was the only rider to stay upright, took the win. This left a second qualifying place available.
Kiriltsev, who is from Russia, then grabbed his bike by the top tube and ran almost 200 metres around the track’s final bend and down the home straight, crossing the finish line on foot to claim second place.
The move was fully within regulations. UCI Rule 1.2.109 states: “A rider may cross the finish line on foot, provided that they have their bicycle with them.”
His quick thinking and awareness of the rules secured his progression to the next round, finishing around two seconds ahead of USA’s Geneway Tang, who chose to remount his bike to complete the race.
Behind them, Great Britain’s Harry Ledingham-Horn finished 10 seconds further back.
This finish has prompted comparisons with Chris Froome’s 2016 run up Mont Ventoux at the Tour de France, after a collision involving a motorbike left him without a working bike. Froome briefly continued on foot up the climb before receiving a replacement bike and rejoining the race.
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Raketacomponents posted the video on Instagram, calling it “tracklocross”. They also wrote that “[Kiriltsev] actually paced 3:20/km after the race, crash, in cleats and with the bike. I doubt many of us could even stand up after that.”
The former keirin world champion went on to progress through the second repechage round and eventually finished eighth overall in the event. The men’s keirin title was won by the Netherlands’ Harrie Lavreysen.
The weekend’s action took place at the UCI Track World Cup in Hong Kong, the second round of this year’s three-event series.
1 thought on “Cyclist runs across finish line following crash to secure qualification at Track World Cup”
Commissaires at our track league would have disqualified him as he didn’t complete the full race distance above the black line 😉