World Cycling Championships : Soviet Rides to Pursuit Title

Viatcheslav Ekimov of the Soviet Union returned to the top of the amateur individual pursuit competition with a victory today in the World Cycling Championships.

Ekimov said he will turn professional soon, a route many Soviet athletes are taking these days.

“I have had a number of proposals from teams in France, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain,” Ekimov said. “It is certain I will turn professional and concentrate on the road races.”

Ekimov was timed in 4 minutes 35.58 seconds for the 4-kilometer distance, defeating East Germany’s Jens Lehmann, who finished in 4:42.17.

Steffen Blochwitz of East Germany was third, with Cedric Mathy of Belgium fourth.

Ekimov won in 1985 and 1986 but lost in 1987 to countryman Guintaoutas Umaras, who also won in the 1988 Olympic Games at Seoul.

In the only other final of the day, Italy’s Claudio Golinelli won the pro match sprint crown.