From Global Cycling Leadership to Local Impact: How Igor Makarov Is Helping Shape the Future of Cycling in Cyprus
For more than four decades, cycling has remained the defining thread of Igor Makarov’s life. From competing as a professional rider to helping shape the sport’s international landscape and, more recently, investing in community cycling initiatives in Cyprus, his journey reflects a lifelong commitment to making cycling more accessible, sustainable, and inclusive.
While many know Makarov as the founder of ARETI International Group, within the cycling world he is equally recognized for his years of service to international cycling governance, his creation of one of the sport’s leading professional teams, and his continued investment in developing the next generation of cyclists.
A Lifelong Passion for Cycling
Before becoming an international entrepreneur, Igor Makarov was a professional cyclist and a member of the USSR National Cycling Team, competing internationally from 1979 to 1986. Those years shaped not only his competitive spirit but also his belief that cycling can change lives by teaching resilience, discipline, and perseverance.
Even after transitioning into business, Makarov remained deeply connected to the sport that launched his career.
Contributing to the Global Development of Cycling
From 2011 to 2025, Makarov served as a member of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) Management Committee, the executive body responsible for the governance and strategic direction of world cycling. During nearly fourteen years of service, he participated in helping guide the international development of the sport alongside representatives from cycling federations around the world.
His contribution extended beyond committee meetings.
For many years, Makarov and his companies supported the Union Européenne de Cyclisme (UEC) and approximately 50 European national cycling federations, helping strengthen development programs and promote competitive cycling across the continent. His long-term vision consistently emphasized expanding opportunities for athletes while encouraging wider participation in cycling at every level.
His dedication to cycling governance was recognized internationally when he received the UCI Merit Award in 2016 for his contribution to the sport.
Building One of the World’s Leading Professional Teams
One of Makarov’s most visible contributions to professional cycling came through the creation of Team KATUSHA.
Founded in 2008, KATUSHA joined the UCI WorldTour in 2009 and quickly became one of the strongest squads in international road racing. Throughout more than a decade of competition, the Swiss-registered team earned nearly 300 professional victories and regularly ranked among the world’s top WorldTour teams.
The roster featured some of cycling’s most accomplished riders, including Joaquim Rodríguez, Alexander Kristoff, Tony Martin, Daniel Moreno, Simon Špilak, Filippo Pozzato and Ilnur Zakarin. Under Makarov’s long-term sponsorship, the team became known not only for its competitive success but also for its international character, bringing together athletes from numerous countries under one organization.
For Makarov, the team represented more than elite competition, it was an investment in the future of professional cycling. The team and its World Tour license were taken over by Israel Cycling Academy in October 2019.
A New Focus: Cycling for Everyone
Following the conclusion of his service on the UCI Management Committee in 2025, Makarov has increasingly focused his efforts closer to home – in Cyprus, where he has lived for more than three decades.
Rather than concentrating on elite international competition, his current work emphasizes grassroots cycling, youth development, community participation, and making cycling accessible to people of all ages.
Working through ARETI International Group and local partners, he has become one of the leading private supporters of cycling initiatives on the island. His efforts include sponsoring the ARETI Gran Prix Cyprus, supporting the Mayflower Gran Prix, backing the Paphos Gran Prix, and helping organize the annual INEX Club Charity Ride, events that bring together both professional and amateur cyclists while encouraging healthy lifestyles and active communities.
His contribution to the growth of cycling in Cyprus has been recognized with the Aristides Konstantinidis Award, reflecting his role in helping establish the island as an emerging destination for cycling tourism and international cycling events.
Investing in the Next Generation
Perhaps the clearest expression of Makarov’s current vision is the local cycling clubs, which have become one of Cyprus’s most meaningful community cycling events.
The annual rides raise funds to provide bicycles, helmets, clothing, wheels, and other essential equipment for young members of the Cyprus national cycling team. By reducing financial barriers, the initiative gives talented young athletes greater opportunities to train, compete, and pursue their ambitions.
The events also reflects a broader philosophy: cycling succeeds when communities, businesses, local authorities, and athletes work together. More than a fundraising ride, it has become a celebration of inclusion, participation, and opportunity.
Philanthropy Beyond Cycling
Cycling is only one dimension of Makarov’s philanthropic work.
Through ARETI International Group and his charitable initiatives, he has supported healthcare, education, autism research, children’s hospitals, organizations serving people with disabilities, environmental projects, and cultural institutions around the world. His philanthropy has also included creating public spaces such as the Limassol park, supporting visually impaired children through accessible publishing initiatives, and partnering with organizations including Best Buddies International and Make-A-Wish. In recognition of decades of humanitarian work, UNESCO awarded him Gold Certificates and a Gold Medal.
A Legacy That Continues
Igor Makarov’s contribution to cycling spans every level of the sport.
As a professional rider, he experienced cycling from inside the peloton. As founder of Team KATUSHA, he helped build one of the world’s leading professional teams. Through nearly fifteen years on the UCI Management Committee, he contributed to the international governance and development of cycling. Today, his attention has shifted toward inspiring participation at the grassroots level, supporting young athletes, and strengthening local cycling communities in Cyprus.
While the scale of his work has evolved, from international governance to local development, the underlying mission has remained remarkably consistent: helping more people discover the opportunities that cycling can create, both on and off the bike.
