Ilnur Zakarin

In 2007, as a 17-year-old, he won the juniors time trial at the European Road Championships.[6]

In July 2009, the Russian cycling federation announced that Zakarin had been banned for two years after he had tested positive for the anabolic steroid metandienone.[7]

He came back from his ban in 2011 and in 2012 he got a contract with continental team Itera–Katusha. In the fall of 2012 he rode as a stagiaire with Team Katusha, but he was not picked up by the team and instead he got a contract with professional continental team RusVelo, whom he rode for in 2013 and 2014.

In September 2014 Team Katusha announced that they had signed Zakarin on an initial two-year deal from 2015.[8]

In April, he finished ninth overall at the Tour of the Basque Country. At the beginning of May, Zakarin took a prestigious victory; the general classification of the Tour de Romandie. He realized this feat thanks to a good performance in the mountains, finishing second in stage 4,[9] and a very good time trial ride on the fifth and final stage, where he finished second even though he had to change his bike midway through the course due to some mechanical issues.[10] Zakarin made his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia, where he won Stage 11 after attacking from a breakaway in heavy rain at the Autodromo Internazionale Enzo e Dino Ferrari racing circuit in Imola.[11]

In 2016, Zakarin won Stage 6 of Paris–Nice atop La Madone d'Utelle, ahead of Geraint Thomas (Team Sky) and Alberto Contador (Tinkoff).[12] He finished the race in fourth overall.[13] Zakarin led Katusha at the Giro d'Italia. On Stage 19, whilst placed fifth overall, he crashed heavily on the descent of the Colle dell'Agnello, suffering fractures to his left collarbone and shoulder, ending his race.[14] Zakarin recovered from his injuries and was named in the start list for the Tour de France.[15] Zakarin won Stage 17 of the race after bridging up to Rafał Majka (Tinkoff) and Jarlinson Pantano (IAM Cycling) at the base of the day's final climb to Finhaut–Emosson, and attacking with six kilometres remaining to solo to stage victory.[16]

Zakarin at the 2017 Giro d'Italia

He started the season at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana stage race, and continued by riding the Abu Dhabi Tour in which he finished 2nd.[17] He finished 5th at the Giro d'Italia after finishing 2nd on three individual stages. On 10 July 2017, Zakarin renewed his contract with Team Katusha–Alpecin for two years.[18] Zakarin finished in third place at the Vuelta a España; the last time a Russian stood on the podium was in 2007, when Denis Menchov won that race.[19] Zakarin became Russian champion in the individual time trial during the season,[20] and finished his season by representing Russia at the World Championships.

He won the 2017 award for "Athlete of the year" in Tatarstan, and received the prize at the ceremony of athletes of the year of Tatarstan on 18 December at the Volga Region State Academy of Physical Culture, Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Tatarstan.[21]

Zakarin at the 2018 Tour de France

He began the 2018 season at the Abu Dhabi Tour.[22] He did not have any top 10 performances until the Critérium du Dauphiné where he finished 10th. He rode the Tour de France where he suffered a crash in the first week and survived the cobblestones of stage 9 where many general classification riders had a bad day; he was outside the top 10 going into the final week. The last two high mountain stages to Saint-Lary-Soulan and Laruns were the highlight for Zakarin where he finished in 10th place on both, then placed 7th on the final individual time trial; he finished the race in ninth overall. Later in the year at the Vuelta a España he finished 20th.

In August 2019, it was announced that Zakarin was to join the CCC Team on a two-year contract.[23]

After one season with CCC Team, Zakarin signed a two-year contract with Gazprom–RusVelo in October 2020.[5]