BVC-CHAT In defense of Eki

[Laura Kennedy]

In response to a post which described Ekimov's career as "not 
spectacular."  No offense, but.....

Ok, so I have to defend my favorite Russian - and say that Ekimov has 
had one of the most spectacular careers in cycling.  I think that our 
view of "spectacular" is a little skewed by ol' LA.  He (and Eddie and 
Bernard) had an unbelievable, exceptional, super-human career.  But 
back to Eki.

Here's a start:  Born in 1966, Ekimov began cycling in the Russian 
system at a very young age - I'm remembering 12, but could be 
mis-remembering.  He began his career in earnest as a track cyclist, 
winning a gold medal at the 1988 Olympics.  Additionally, he was the 
World Amateur Pursuit Champion in 85,86 and 89.  He turned pro in 1990 
and promptly captured the World Professional Pursuit championship in 
1990.  He has won a stage of the Tour De France (91), three stages of 
the Tour of Switzerland, a stage of the Vuelta a Espana, the 
Championship of Zurich and the GP Eddy Merckx (with LA).   Remarkably, 
at the age of 34 he returned to the Olympics and won a gold medal in 
the time trial.  To follow that up, he earned a silver medal in the 
2004 Olympics - at the age of 38!  Not to mention the fact that Eki has 
finished every tour he ever started - 14.   He's one of just seven 
riders to accomplish this feat.  And don't forget his third place 
finish in Paris-Roubaix in 2003.

Alright, I'll get off my Eki soap-box....just couldn't let it go....


lk - Great fan of Slava Ekimov
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