Russian Ilnur Zakarin said in a interview that he was currently working on the possibility of creating a pro-continental cycling team, and also noted that he would be involved in other amateur cycling-related projects.
Zakarin announced at the end of 2021 that the 2022 season would be the last of his career. But due to sanctions against Russian sports, especially Gazprom-Rusvelo, he lost the opportunity to drive the remaining races in 2022. On Sunday, he announced “” his retirement.
— What are your plans for the near future?
– Now I speak with large IT companies. I want to create a pro-continental team (professional, in the new UCI ranking – approx. “”) and be the general manager.
What kind of CEO do you see yourself as? Will you control all directions?
— I was in many teams. I know that there are people who control the work in every way, climb into the work of mechanics, masseurs. This is not my approach. For now, I just hope that this project will take place, that everything will be fine. If not, I have something to do. I understood that sooner or later an athlete’s career had to come to an end. I have two construction companies and cycling is for the soul.
Zakarin also intends to engage in a project to organize bike camps for children.
We are rethinking the format. Due to logistical issues, we now want to implement it in Russia, possibly in Krasnaya Polyana. You can’t imagine what emotions you feel when you see how happy children ride their bikes. Words cannot describe. I can say that the project has caught people’s attention, and many want to support financially,” he added.
After the end of his career, Zakarin will continue to work on the INEX bicycle project.
It is a cycling club for amateurs. A project that I plan to develop. People will be able to ride with us, go to competitions in other countries, come to training camps in Cyprus, train calmly, where there is no traffic. Here are all the conditions, all the times to rent bikes, we do everything to make people feel comfortable in this situation. For a person to come, get on, get high, sit down and drink coffee. In general, so that everything is fun, – said the 32-year-old runner.
Source : MatchTV
