# Kiriltsev finishes on foot to progress at Hong Kong 🎥

*By Simon | April 18, 2026*

---

![UCI Track World Cup: Hong Kong](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/footrace.jpg)

## 󠀁[Kiriltsev finishes on foot to progress at Hong Kong 🎥](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/04/kiriltsev-finishes-on-foot-to-progress-at-hong-kong/)󠁿

18 April 2026

Harrie Lavreysen
[won the men’s keirin](https://globalkeirin.com/2026/04/lavreysen-back-on-top-at-track-world-cup-in-hong-kong/)
event at the Track World Cup today, but we have to highlight the heroic effort
by individual neutral athlete
[Nikita Kiriltsev](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nikita-kiriltsev/) in the
first round repechage. _(And we found video of the drama – see below!)_

Within moments of [Tom Derache](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/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](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-ridwan-sahrom/)
in mid-air at the back, and bodies strewn all over the track.

![UCI Track World Cup: Hong Kong](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/AW5_2729-1125x750.jpg)

_Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com_

Kiriltsev – wearing 166 in the middle of the photo, on his back underneath
[Luca Spiegel](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/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](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/geneway-tang/) was rubber side
down again, back on his bike, and coming for him.

![UCI Track World Cup: Hong Kong](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/AW5_2836-1125x750.jpg)

_Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com_

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](https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harry-ledingham-horn/) who
crossed the line a further ten seconds back.

![UCI Track World Cup: Hong Kong](https://globalkeirin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/AW5_2867-1125x750.jpg)

_Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com_

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.’

### 󠀁[UCI](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Track World Cup](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[2026](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/)󠁿 > 󠀁[Round 2](https://globalkeirin.com/event/4162d0bb/c93e79c7/bf1509f7/ebdb2c93/)󠁿⏎ First round repechage 4

<table>
        <tr><th colspan="4">Details</th></tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Velodrome</td>
            <td colspan="2"><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/velodrome/hong-kong/">Hong Kong</a></td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <td colspan="2">Date</td>
            <td colspan="2">18 Apr 2026</td>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">UCI Track World Cup 2026 Round 2 : First round repechage 4</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th colspan="4">Result</th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
            <th>Pos</th><th>Nat</th>
            <th>Rider</th>
            <th></th>
        </tr>
        <tr>
                <td><span>1</span></td>
                <td>FRA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/tom-derache/">Tom Derache</a></td>
                <td><span>Q</span></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>2</span></td>
                <td>AIN</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/nikita-kiriltsev/">Nikita Kiriltsev</a></td>
                <td><span>Q</span></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>3</span></td>
                <td>USA</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/geneway-tang/">Geneway Tang</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>4</span></td>
                <td>GBR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/harry-ledingham-horn/">Harry Ledingham-Horn</a></td>
                <td></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>5</span></td>
                <td>GER</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/luca-spiegel/">Luca Spiegel</a></td>
                <td><span>DNF</span></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>6</span></td>
                <td>KOR</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/woorim-choi/">Woorim Choi</a></td>
                <td><span>DNF</span></td>
            </tr><tr>
                <td><span>7</span></td>
                <td>MAS</td>
                <td><a href="https://globalkeirin.com/rider/muhammad-ridwan-sahrom/">Muhammad Ridwan Sahrom</a></td>
                <td><span>DNF</span></td>
            </tr></table>

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.

🚨 **_WE FOUND VIDEO!_**

Nikita himself posted a couple of clips to
[his Instagram story](https://www.instagram.com/kk.nik7a): one possibly
originally sourced from
[raketacomponents](https://www.instagram.com/p/DXRZvDPCIbc/).

**Categories:** Original
**Tags:** uci, ucitwc