"I always think that this is the last time," was how Ilnur Zakarin described his attitude toward racing in the final year of his career at age 32, before crashing at the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.

One of Russia's most successful racers in recent years, Zakarin already has stage wins at the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia and a top three finish at the Vuelta a España in 2017.

But beyond keeping in mind what he has accomplished so far as a racer, he told Cycling News that his motivation heading into 2022 is the feeling that he will soon no longer be a cyclist.

"Yes, I think about this 'last time' all the time," Zakarin says.

"I was at training camp in Calpe this winter, and on one of the rides we climbed the Col de Lait. So we had to climb it with full gas."

"I need these emotions this year. It's really important."

If Zakarin's motivation is "how" he will tackle his last year, as he nears retirement, there remains the "why" of cutting tires at the relatively young age of 32.

"It's an interesting question," he answers somewhat laconically.

"Italian and Spanish riders live in this part of Europe, and when the race is over they can fly home to their friends and family."

But for Americans, Australians, and Russians, Zakarin insists that no matter where they go or live in Western Europe, "it's like a second training camp. It doesn't feel like home."

In any case, home for Zakarin and his family is not Russia. It is Cyprus, where he says he will remain after his career is over; after a failed attempt to live in Italy seven years ago, the Zakarin family is now largely settled in Cyprus.

Zakarin spoke to Cycling News 24 hours before he crashed and retired midway through stage 3. According to race medical officials, Zakarin had suffered a concussion and an injury to his jaw that required hospital treatment and stitches. As a result, plans for a training camp in the Canary Islands after Valenciana have not been finalized, but it is hoped that he will have time to recover, as the next race is not until March.

The Russian's long-term plans remain vague, but he is open to the idea of working with young riders in his home country, perhaps even working on organizing more races in Russia. Zakarin admits that it will be an uphill battle. His hopes of finding new cycling talent in his home country are limited. Not because he doesn't have the potential, but because there are few opportunities to let it shine.

"There is no cycling culture in Russia, and that is the big difference between (Western) Europe and Russia. There are fewer races. But I am going to try to do something about this," he explains.

For now, Zakarin's goal is to do as well as realistically possible for 2022.

"I don't have any particular goals, I simply want to do my best," he insists.

"Because I need this: in the last year, I have to give everything I have."