Furious Giulio Ciccone questions European Championships photo-finish loss to Remco Evenepoel - Italian wants to see photo "on the real finish line"
Cycling
A furious Giulio Ciccone has questioned the validity of the European Championships elite men's race photo finish that saw him beaten by milimetres as Remco Evenepoel took victory on Sunday. Taking to Instagram, the Italian claimed that he wanted to see the "photo finish on the real finish line".
In a passionate post to social media, the Lidl-Trek rider appeared to question the decision from the photo finish, that awarded Evenepoel the win by win by 0.0028 seconds, claiming that he wants to see the picture from the 'real' finish line.
The duo contested a two-up sprint after leaving the rest of the field on the penultimate lap in Slovenia. With the pair locked in battle heading into the finale, Ciccone had the advantage before a last-minute surge and bike throw from Evenepoel led to him being awarded the win in Sencur.
"I've looked at the available images hundreds of times and, in the filming where the finish line is visible, I keep seeing a dynamic that I cannot reconcile with that verdict," he wrote on Instagram.
While the available photo and line showed the mere milimetres Evenepoel had seemigly won by, Ciccone claimed that he cannot accept the verdict without seeing another photo finish of the finale.
Ciccone says he can't accept the verdict
"If a European title is decided by 2.8 milliseconds of a second, I think it’s legitimate to ask that that very passage can be shown with the same precision with which the result was determined.
"I'm not asking that a television shot will replace photo finish. I'm not questioning the value of Remco nor the amazing race he ran. I am asking a very simple question: see the photo finish on the real finish line."
For photo finishes, race organisers use specialised imagery and software to overlay a vertical line at the front-wheel edge of the leading rider, thus the winner. However, this line may not be the finish line for technical reasons.
Remco Evenepoel won the 2026 Europeans by photo-finish against Giulio Ciccone.
Ciccone praises Evenepoel despite contesting photo finish
"Until that correspondence is shown to me, for me it remains a question to which I have not yet received an answer.
"Remco was the strongest runner yesterday. He ran as a Champion; he could interpret and manage a complex race and offered an extraordinary performance."
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Ciccone and Evenepoel were the two favourites heading into the race, and both made their move on the penultimate ascent of the Mozjanca climb. Although Evenepoel crashed over the top, the pair ultimately went clear from the field on the subsequent descent and remained locked together until the sprint for the line.
The win meant that Evenepoel has now claimed both the road race and time trial crown at the European Championships, World Championships and Olympic Games.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- I’d like to see the actual photo finish with the black (not white) line which they use to determine the winner. Ciccone’s photo sure does make it look questionable, but it doesn’t show the following… Which, from what I understand, it is the ‘9 o’clock’ of the wheel, crossing the black line first, which is used to determine the winner.anonymouscyclist05-10-2026
- I think Pogačar is going to have a really hard time becoming Belgian road champion. I mean, nothing seems impossible with the guy, but still. Kidding aside, this is honestly an incredible set of achievements. It's not the usual set of cycling achievements in terms of specific races, but seriously, all the championships he can, in road and TT?! And he's how young? That's really remarkable. Congratulations, Remco Evenepoel!RidesHills05-10-2026
- if you consult the second picture in ciccone's instagram post, which seems to show the actual finish line in top view, it rather looks like a ciccone win! if they do not retract their decision pro remco only, they loose the least bit of credibility they still have. you can argue about how to make racing safer, but you can't argue about a decision that completely lacks proof. they don't even share how far away from the real finish the image was taken. if they would, every 2nd semester physics bsc student would be able to simulate how many cm the delayed bike throw of ciccone would have resulted in. and we are not even talking cm or mm here! shame on the uci (is it uci or a europe specific association?) for their lack of transparancy!Ketterechts05-10-2026
- Interesting you claim Visma isn't a top 3 team anyomore yet their UCI rank is ...#3. Lidl Trek is only #5. Visma has 2 riders in the top 10, Lidl Treks top rider, Pederson is 16th. Their big Grand Tour signing, Ayuso is ranked 38th and has been a bust so far.GB05-10-2026
- Yes, it's fairer that way. A bit like Adam Bradać and Dušan Rajović in Poreć the other day, when they both were declared winners. As I said on the other thread, the uncertainty of the finish line - and the red line may not be on the right part finish line - is much more than that non-existent winning margin. But if they show the finish line here, they have to fo it everywhere and we know the problem there
Rafionain-Glas05-10-2026 - I truly appreciate the way that Ciccone in no way takes away from Evenepoel, praises him throughout, and casts no doubt on his fellow rider. That’s character. Also, he has every right to make these demands. I thought yesterday that the photo finish was clearer than it turned out to be, and now I’m amazed that they called it when there is enough doubt. Back in the day they had ties at moments like this. I wouldn’t mind seeing two European champions in the coming year, after a race that good.RidesHills05-10-2026
- From the photo it's literally a millimetre difference. The uncertainty of the finish line is considerably moreRafionain-Glas05-10-2026
- I wasn't trying to be too critical of Remco and said he just wins and is amazing - so compliments thrown in for sure too. just speaking out loud with my other comment on his demonstrations and vocalizations. yeah, don't change for sure Remco! because he is a winner. anyone that says otherwise is sorely mistaken. the first rider to win on all continents. the double olympic gold. monuments. grand tours. the first rider to have a championship at national, euro, world and olympics in TT and road. plus how many one day races, one week races, and more. he just makes me laugh - you KNOW there is always going to be something from Remco either before or after a race. many times both. and as I'm laughing and loving the drama, I have to shake my head and think put all of that into the pedals. his Jonas critique of no balls was not only funny, but IMO true of at least that stage. if Jonas had ridden, they basically would have solidified a top 3 for each of them. then it is just who is on one step. and this years tour was beyond impressive. so many times that guy was dropped, and there he is finishing top 3 for the stage. he does not give up, he is a fighter. cycling would suck without some Remcos thrown into the mix.mij05-10-2026
- All jokes aside, I agree. But being completely honest, I love Remco and the sheer chaos he brings. He totally lights up a race. His complaints over the Vuelta Stage 1 TT lighting? Electric. His anger towards Jonas’ lack of b*lls? Hilarious. Whining about a rider’s lack of support? Pure entertainment. Some of his complaints are totally fair, others are straight-up tantrums, but either way, cycling is so much more fun with him in it. You can't deny the spark he brings. It’s personalities like his that draw us to our sport. Never change, Remco.anonymouscyclist05-10-2026
- I’m waiting for when Pidcock joins this conversation regarding Amstel Gold… his jibe in the podcast with Matt Stephens was quite telling!anonymouscyclist05-10-2026
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