Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 16, 1994 TAG: 9405160050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
The evidence was presented Sunday when Viatcheslav Ekimov dominated Stage 11, winning the final time trial and the overall race with a time of 47 hours, 14 minutes, 29 seconds.
The 96 riders battled headwinds in the 16-mile time trial that started in Kernersville, N.C., and ended in front of a large, enthusiastic crowd in downtown Winston-Salem.
"It's a very interesting race, very difficult, but very interesting," said Ekimov, whose winning time in Stage 11 was 34:03.015. "This is my first victory in stage races, and I am very happy."
The average speed of the race, a 12-day stage race that started with a prologue in Wilmington, Del., was 22.19 mph.
Ekimov, a 28-year-old from St. Petersburg, Russia, took over the yellow leader's jersey last Monday when he won the Roanoke Valley time trial and staved off multiple challenges from Lance Armstrong throughout the final stages.
Armstrong, of Austin, Texas, finished second overall, 1:24 back. Andrea Peron of Italy was third, 2:43 behind, followed closely by Italian Andrea Chiurato.
"All I can say is I did my best and it just wasn't enough," said Armstrong, who started the final stage 35 seconds behind. "I thought I could come back, but Ekimov was super strong. Anyone who wins two time trials like that deserves to win."
Armstrong, who wears the rainbow jersey of the reigning world champion and races for team Motorola, also finished second overall last year after faltering in the time trials.
"It was the same story as last year, being in a deficit and having to attack," Armstrong, 22, said. "I needed to take back time in the hills but couldn't because [Ekimov] was just too strong."
Armstrong received the Best Young Rider Award, but his youthful exuberance was overcome by inconsistency throughout the race, the premier cycling event in the United States.
"Lance is still a young rider, but growing up very quickly," said Ekimov, who races for WordPerfect. "Soon he will be one of the best riders in the world. . . . He is a good rider of stage races - he has everything."
Motorola won the overall team competition, but it was little consolation for Armstrong or team director Jim Ochowicz, who had his sights set on the individual championship.
"Those who followed the race day to day saw that . . . the team as a whole dominated the race," Ochowicz said. "But Ekimov was the best rider in the race, therefore he won the race."
Added Armstrong: "I'm not disappointed, but I'm not overly happy. It was our goal to win the [individual] race, whether it was me or Raul [Alcala, the 1993 Tour DuPont champion]."
Alcala, who gave up the team leadership to Armstrong early in the race, finished tied for ninth overall (47:20:42) with Darren Baker of Chambersburg, Pa., who competes for team Saturn.
Greg LeMond of Medina, Minn., finished in 47:25:08 for 22nd place overall after a disappointing final time trial. LeMond rode the stage in 36:47.199, placing 35th.
Steve Bauer of Canada, who won Stage 3 from Fredericksburg to Richmond, placed second on Sunday with a time of 34:31.724. Jean-Francois Bernard of France was third (34:31.797), followed by Armstrong (34:52.203).
At the winner's podium, Ekimov celebrated his victory by uncorking a bottle of champagne and spraying it on the throng of media that has followed the riders for most of the race's 1,050 miles. Ekimov then dumped the remaining bubbly on his head.
He said winning the Roanoke Valley time trial gave him the confidence to continue his battle for the overall crown, worth $40,000.
"The last time trial on Monday, I felt good. The whole week I was concentrating to Sunday. I was really ready for today. I am a very happy man," Ekimov said.
Wiebren Veenstra successfully defended his sprint jersey, and Oscar Pellicioli won the King of the Mountains jersey for being the best climber.
by CNB