russian cyclist Ilnur Zakarin In an interview with , he announced the end of his professional career.
Zakarin, 32, announced at the end of 2021 that the 2022 season would be the last of his career. But due to the sanctions against Russian sports and in particular his team Gazprom-Rusvelo, the athlete was deprived of the possibility of driving the remaining races in 2022.
– Ilnur, there were so many plans for the last season of my career. You didn’t want to wait, stay another year, look for a team?
“No, there was no such desire,” Zakarin told . – Yes, everything happened so fast… The way I end my career is bad. I would like to drive the race knowing that it is the last of my career, as it has proven to be the case with others – on the Champs Elysées or in Milan. But what is, is. I’m finishing my career, I’m going to work on my projects.
– Why was there no such desire to stay for a year?
– A lot of effort went into the preparation for last season, there was an understanding of how I want to end my career. The first two months in general there was complete apathy and I didn’t want anything anymore. Even now, it remains in my head that I continue to perform. A guy here asked me for a machine, but I’m thinking how to train, it’s raining in January, I need a machine. Then I think – stop, I’m done.
Zakarin is currently the latest Russian rider to break into the top 3 in Grand Tours – he finished third in the 2017 Vuelta. He has eight professional victories to his name, including stages in the Giro d’Italia and Tour de France.
Source : MatchTV
