Harrie Lavreysen won the men’s keirin event at the Track World Cup today, but we have to highlight the heroic effort by individual neutral athlete Nikita Kiriltsev in the first round repechage. (And we found video of the drama – see below!)

Within moments of Tom Derache taking the front, there was a crash behind, taking out the other six riders – and giving the Frenchman the easiest win of his career.

In a series of remarkable photos, SWPix’s Alex Whitehead captured the chaos, including Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom in mid-air at the back, and bodies strewn all over the track.

Kiriltsev – wearing 166 in the middle of the photo, on his back underneath Luca Spiegel – proceeded to pick himself up, pick his bike up… and started running to the finish line. Full pelt. In cleats.

But he wasn’t the only rider able to get up after the crash: behind him, Geneway Tang was rubber side down again, back on his bike, and coming for him.

Kiriltsev crossed the line 42 seconds behind Derache – but he claimed second place, with Tang coming in two seconds behind. Kudos also to Harry Ledingham-Horn who crossed the line a further ten seconds back.

Finishing on foot is entirely within the rules: UCI regulation 1.2.109 states: ‘A rider may cross the finish line on foot, provided that they have their bicycle with them.’

Kiriltsev thus claimed a spot in the quarter finals an hour later. He was last in a tough draw; but again, was successful via repechage, snatching the second place he needed to reach the semi final stage.