World Cycling Invitational : Ekimov Leads Soviets; Eickhoff Paces U.S. Team

With most of a $100,000 purse to be awarded today, the NEC World Cycling Invitational looks like a three-team race between the United States, the Soviet Union and Italy.

The Soviets, behind Viacheslav Ekimov, took over first place among the eight teams with 56 points. The United States, behind Janie Eickhoff, moved into second with 53 points, and Italy won Saturday’s last event to stay close with 52.

Ekimov, the three-time world pursuit champion, treated the crowd at the Olympic Velodrome at Cal State Dominguez Hills to the day’s most impressive victory. Going against Pascal Potie of France in a 12-lap (4,000-kilometer) race, Ekimov lapped his opponent on their 10th circuit and posted a time of 4 minutes 36.51 seconds, almost 19 seconds ahead of the next-best time.

Eickhoff, 19, of Los Alamitos, who attends Cal State Dominguez Hills, kept the United States in contention, winning both the tempo and elimination races and posting her best time in the 3,000-meter pursuit (3:59.22).

America’s veteran sprinter, Connie Paraskevin-Young, was eliminated in the women’s sprint semifinals by France’s Isabelle Gautheron after two down-to-the-wire heats. When they last met a year ago at Seoul, Young edged Gautheron for the Olympic bronze medal. The Soviets’ Erika Salumayae also advanced to today’s sprint final in straight heats.

In the men’s match sprints, Ken Carpenter of the United States defeated Italy’s Fedrico Paris to reach today’s semifinals with Canada’s Curt Harnett, who had a surprisingly easy time against Nikolai Kovsch of the Soviet Union, Gary Neiwand of Australia and Frederick Magne of France.

Today’s final session begins at 1 p.m.

Cycling Notes

Although he did not ride, Saturday’s star was Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. Of his new-found celebrity, he said, “When I went to the White House the first time I won (the Tour de France) in 1986, I was rushed in, they took pictures, and I was rushed out. This year, all the Secret Service men were cyclists.”