Liam Slock won GP Gippingen 2026 in extraordinary fashion, taking a surprise victory for Lotto-Intermarche before crashing across the finish line as he began to celebrate.
The Belgian had just beaten
Aleksandr Vlasov and
Richard Carapaz from a select front group in Leuggern, timing his sprint perfectly after a hilly finale packed with attacks. But instead of a clean winning salute, Slock’s front wheel appeared to go from under him as he raised his arms, sending him sliding over the line moments after sealing the biggest result of his career. It made for one of the most bizarre finish-line images of the season, with Slock already confirmed as the winner but ending his race on the tarmac.
The finale had been shaped by a late selection rather than a bunch sprint. Carapaz attacked in the closing kilometres, while several big names made the decisive front group, including Thibau Nys, Julian Alaphilippe, Jarno Widar, Diego Ulissi, Lukas Nerurkar, Mauro Schmid and Marcel Camprubi.
Vlasov was still in position to contest the win on the final straight, with Carapaz close behind, but Slock launched first and held his speed all the way to the line. Vlasov finished second on the same time, with Carapaz third at one second.
Slock’s crash then turned an already unexpected result into the clear talking point of the race. The Lotto Intermarche rider had crossed first in 4:15:24, but the winning celebration lasted only a split second before the dramatic fall.
Watch the finish-line incident in the video below.