Former Olympic champion Viatcheslav Ekimov will return home to Russia to take up a position with a national development project for the 2012 season.

The former super-domestique, currently a directeur sportif for American team RadioShack, is set to become an advisor for the Russian Global Cycling Project.

The project incorporates professional cycling team Katusha, but also has a wider remit with other teams and different track and development squads.

Ekimov will work under Igor Makarov, president of the Russian cycling federation.

Eurosport