A curious scene: Liam Slock crosses the finish line in jubilation to claim his first professional victory

At the GP Gippingen, spectators witnessed a finale that is likely to go down in cycling history. Liam Slock (Lotto Intermarché) broke away from his two rivals 230 metres from the finish in Leuggern and took his hands off the handlebars just before the finish line to celebrate. A gust of wind caught his handlebars, the Belgian lost his balance and crashed headfirst onto the tarmac. With enough momentum left, he slid across the finish line to secure his first victory as a professional cyclist.

"Luckily I won, otherwise that would have been the blunder of the year," said Liam Slock after the race. "There was an incredibly strong wind, and I underestimated it for a moment. I realised quite early on that I was going to win, so I started celebrating even before the finish line." Aleksandr Vlasov (Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe) and Richard Carapaz (EF Education - EasyPost) only overtook Slock, who was lying on the ground, after the finish line and took second and third place.

Decisive moment at Rotberg – Liam Slock launches an attack

The leading trio broke away on the final climb up the Rotberg and extended their lead over the last 12 kilometres. Thibau Nys (Lidl - Trek) finished fourth, three seconds behind, on his season debut, ahead of a 13-man chasing group. The German riders missed the decisive breakaway on the Rotberg. Florian Stork (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) finished the race in 17th place, 1 minute and 6 seconds behind, whilst Emil Herzog (Red Bull - Bora - hansgrohe) came 31st, 1 minute and 45 seconds behind.

The winner, Liam Slock, certainly won’t forget his first professional victory in a hurry, and next time he celebrates a win, he’ll probably keep his hands on the handlebars.