Kirichenko Gets First Gold Medal of Cycling Event

Aleksander Kirichenko of the Soviet Union, mastering the steeply sloped track at Maebashi’s velodrome, won the men’s amateur one-kilometer time trial today in the World Cycling Championship.

Kirichenko’s time of 1 minute, 03.565 seconds was nearly one second slower than his world record of 1:02.576 set in 1989.

“The track is fast but I didn’t have the strength to break my world mark,” said Kirichenko, who became the first gold medalist at the newly built Green Dome.

The 1,099-foot track has a maximum inclination of 42 degrees, one of the toughest in the world.

Martin Vinnicombe of Australia finished second in 1:03.919.

The bronze medal went to 1989 champion Jens Gluecklich of East Germany, who was clocked in 1:04.210.

American Erin Hartwell finished 11th in 1:05.883.

In the men’s individual pursuit, American Mike McCarthy took the lead in the last few laps to beat East Germany’s Jens Lehmann with the best qualifying time, 4:32.33.

Steve Hegg, another American, beat Britain’s Chris Boardman and set up a showdown with Soviet riders in Wednesday’s semifinal.

McCarthy faces Valery Baturo and Hegg meets Evgeny Berzin on Wednesday.

In the women’s sprint, American Connie Young advanced into the second round along with 11 others.

American Ken Carpenter will be in the amateur sprint race on Wednesday.

Nelson Vails of the United States was beaten in the quarterfinals of the professional competition by Hideyuki Matsui of Japan.