"Inside the international cycling party, they are waiting for the full-fledged return of Russia"

In the 2010s, the main star of Russian cycling was Ilnur Zakarin, who fought on equal terms with the world elite in the most prestigious races, won several stages of the Grand Tour, as well as individual stages in the main stages of the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia. In 2022, he ended his career as an athlete, and in March 2025 he became the head of the Cycling Federation of the Republic of Tatarstan.

Last week, his organization held the Russian Highway Cycling Championship in Kazan for the second year in a row. In an interview with Izvestia, Zakarin shared the specifics of organizing such competitions, spoke about his work, appreciated the recent change in leadership of the Russian Cycling Federation and shared his opinion on the chances of a full-fledged return of our cyclists to the international arena, where they are still competing in a neutral status.

— How did you like the last Russian Championship?

— It passed normally. This year, we took on a little more responsibility in terms of organizing the competition. We are the Russian Cycling Federation and the Cycling Federation of Tatarstan. I would like to note that in parallel with the professional races, we also organized amateur competitions within the framework of this championship. After talking with the participants, I realized that everyone liked it.

— Is it particularly prestigious to hold the Russian Championship in the city two years in a row?

— Yes, we are very glad that we have been entrusted with the organization of the national championship again. We try not to stand still and improve our work in this direction. For example, this year the highway was complicated by adding paving stones inside it. Many participants were worried, and they asked for photos of the track in advance to see and compare how it all looks. But in general, it went well for the athletes, and everyone is happy with the results. Many people came up to me after the races and thanked me for having something new. We are not the first to introduce paving stones, it was at some competitions in Russia, but the national championship seemed to be waiting for such a section to appear on the track.

— Some of the races were held in the city center, the finish line was near the walls of the Kazan Kremlin. Is it difficult to negotiate with the authorities to be allowed to organize a highway in this area, partially blocking traffic?

— Well, in general, we are Rais (the head of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov. — Ed.) very supportive. He knows that cycling is well-developed in our republic, and supports it from his side. The city administration is also always involved in organizing competitions. When she's interested in all this, it's much easier to combine the right moments to properly host such a prestigious event. Yes, there were difficulties, after all, the last two days of the championship were held in the very center of Kazan. But without the difficulties, it would be completely boring (smiles).

— Did the residents complain about the traffic blockage?

— I understand that residents should always be listened to and their opinions taken into account. They live here. And they have to go somewhere, too. That's why we made the highway flexible and didn't block traffic completely. Wherever possible, they made a reverse movement. As a result, no one was closed. That is, everyone had the opportunity to leave. Besides, we only held races near the Kremlin on weekends. On the first two days of the Russian Championship, on Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2, time trials and a mixed team race were held in Innopolis, where traffic is a little easier and the roads are more free. And then, when there was a break on July 3, we prepared thoroughly for the group races, which took place at the weekend in the center of Kazan, where, after all, traffic is not as dense as on weekdays.

"I want to perform under our flag and anthem"

Russian cyclist Marina Komina — about neutral status, chances of international admission and victory in the national championship

— In May, the leadership of the Russian Cycling Federation changed for the second time in three years, Oleg Sienko returned to the post of president 16 years later. Vyacheslav Ekimov, who led the organization in 2016-2023, is now its first vice president. What do you expect from them?

— There are a lot of expectations. The new leadership of the Federation has big plans. And something has already been done. Boys and juniors were allowed to participate in international competitions under the Russian flag and anthem, which is already a great achievement. Otherwise, the new management team is still being lapped up with the old employees of the federation. As soon as the acquaintance is over, the main work will begin.

— How would you rate the chances of early admission under the Russian flag and the anthem of adult cyclists?

— In any case, I don't see anyone in the cycling community having a negative attitude towards ours. I have many friends among the general managers of foreign teams and active drivers. For all the time that Russians have been absent from the international arena, there has not been any skeptical attitude towards our athletes. They're waiting for us. Inside the bike hangout, they are waiting for the full return of Russia.

— Almost a year and a half has passed since you became the head of the Cycling Federation of Tatarstan. What has been achieved during this time?

— We have opened a cycling department in the republic, established relations with the Ministry of Sports of Tatarstan, with the Sports Training Center. Our PMX riders compete under a neutral status — one guy from Naberezhnye Chelny, I hope, will go to the European Championships in the Czech Republic this year. A lot of work has been done. We mainly work with children's cycling. We started from the basics, we are raising a new generation. The guys are already winning the junior and youth championships. And they slowly go upstairs.