1. Viatcheslav Vladimirovich Ekimov is a Russian former professional racing cyclist.
11 Facts About Viatcheslav Ekimov
1. 2.
Viatcheslav Ekimov trained in Leningrad at Lokomotiv and later Armed Forces sports society during the Soviet era.
3.
Viatcheslav Ekimov won three Olympic gold medals: in the track team pursuit in Seoul for the USSR, and in an upset, in the road time trial in Sydney for Russia.
4.
At the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Viatcheslav Ekimov won the silver medal for Russia in the men's road individual time trial, losing to American Tyler Hamilton.
5.
Hamilton later admitted to doping and Viatcheslav Ekimov, who had raced for many more years than Tyler with the infamous Lance Armstrong and Johan Bruyneel partnership, was promoted to gold.
6.
Viatcheslav Ekimov joined the USPS team in 1997 as its first key international signing, briefly retiring in 2001 before rejoining the team the following year.
7.
Viatcheslav Ekimov was a key force in the winning team time trial effort in stage four and was important to Lance Armstrong's fifth Tour victory both on the flats and in the mountains.
8.
Viatcheslav Ekimov missed the 2005 Tour de France due to injuries received in a training ride with Armstrong in Texas.
9.
Viatcheslav Ekimov was honored by the peloton on the final stage, who allowed him to lead them over the line on the first of the eight laps of the Champs-Elysees.
10.
Viatcheslav Ekimov started and finished 15 Tours de France, tying him with Lucien Van Impe for the second most Tour finishes, behind Joop Zoetemelk and Sylvain Chavanel.
11.
Viatcheslav Ekimov helped guide the Discovery riders during the US Pro Cycling Championships in 2006 as well as the Tour of California and the Tour de Georgia.