THE SIDELINES : West German Wins Ski Race

Jochem Behl of West Germany won the boycott-ridden Folksam World Cup 50k classical-style cross-country ski race in Alberta Sunday with a time of 2 hours, 15 minutes, 40 seconds.

Fifty-five of an anticipated 75 racers participated in the event boycotted by the the Swedes, Finns, Norwegians and all but one Soviet. The boycotting athletes were protesting the use of the wave start, in which racers start in groups of five every minute. Traditionally, individual skiers leave the starting line every 30 seconds, but organizers decided last spring to use the wave start to generate more spectator interest.

Igor Badamschin of the Soviet Union finished second in 2:17:43.1 and Maurilio de Zolt of Italy was third in 2:17:47.1.

The Soviet Union won the women’s 20k cross-country relay Sunday at Thunder Bay, Ontario, with a time of 1:07:8.9.