Speed, adrenaline, constant public attention, travel, and exciting competitions in every corner of the world — that is the daily life of 14-time Estonian champion Kirill Tarassov. How did he become a professional cyclist? What is XCE? And why did Kirill feel he needed to come to KSA Silmakeskus to achieve even better results? Read more in this new personal story.
Kirill Tarassov is only 25 years old, yet he can already say he is a 14-time Estonian champion and has achieved outstanding results at competitions all over the world. He started cycling at the age of 8, when he told his mother with firm conviction that he wanted to take up BMX riding. "My mother didn't understand at the time what I was talking about and simply took me to a cycling training session at Kalevi Jalgrattakool in Pirita," Kirill recalls with a laugh. "But once I was there, I thought I'd give it a try, since I immediately liked the crowd at the club," he says.
A few years later, when the young man got to experience firsthand what winning felt like, the matter was settled — this was the sport he wanted to pursue and fully dedicate himself to. And so Kirill stayed with cycling, and he has now been in the saddle for 18 years.
XCE – an exciting sport that lets you see the world
For years, Kirill had focused mainly on road cycling, until after several successful road seasons in France, he produced remarkable results in mountain biking in Estonia in 2022, becoming Estonian champion in short-track mountain bike racing. One thing led to another, and before long Kirill received an invitation to join Trey MTB Team and take part in XCE, also known as cross-country eliminator racing.
"I really enjoy road cycling too, but my true passion has always been riding a mountain bike at full speed. So that invitation was exactly what I'd been waiting for, and I felt that I was finally in the right place!" says Kirill.
But what exactly is XCE, or cross-country eliminator racing? We asked Kirill to explain it in a way that even those who know nothing about cycling could understand. "Eliminator racing is a mountain bike discipline that is fast-paced and designed for spectators. The races generally take place on city streets, and the courses are built so that most of the track is visible to the audience and there are always riders on the course.
It all starts with a qualifying round, where riders set individual times that determine the overall ranking. After that, the athletes are divided into groups of 4, and the two riders who cross the finish line first advance. By eliminating competitors two by two in this way, a winner is eventually determined," he explains.
According to Kirill, XCE racing is a great discipline because it demands focus, precision, speed, and certainly steady nerves. "On top of that, since the races take place in major cities around the world, a big bonus is that I get to discover new and exciting places in very different parts of the world," Kirill points out. "This year the calendar is very packed and there's a lot of travelling. In July alone, for example, I'm expected to visit 5 different countries in Europe," he adds.
When we asked which achievement Kirill is most proud of so far, he didn't take long to think. "I'm definitely most proud of my recent result at the competition in India. It was a World Cup eliminator race, where I finished in a strong 7th place. What made me especially proud was the fact that I had just recovered from COVID and the race was held at nearly 4,000 metres above sea level.
"Several riders needed supplemental oxygen and medical assistance out on the course," Kirill recalls the considerable challenge. "The first riders arrived five days before the start and were able to begin training gradually to acclimatise. Unfortunately, I only arrived the day before the race. Fortunately, I managed to turn things in my favour, and I am extremely pleased with 7th place!" he says.
Short-sightedness and cycling — lenses flying out mid-race
Kirill had been a glasses wearer since first grade, so short-sightedness (difficulty seeing things clearly at a distance) had accompanied him throughout his entire sporting career. "The biggest inconvenience was of course at competitions. Even though I wore contact lenses, my vision still wasn't sharp enough with them, and I always felt I had less time to react. On top of that, bad weather always made me uncertain — both wind and rain have caused me to lose a lens from my eye while riding on multiple occasions," he recalls.
The final push to go through with laser eye surgery came from Kirill's desire to become even better in his sport. "Since XCE is a very short competition in terms of time, every second and even every millisecond counts. I realised that sorting out my vision would give me the chance to develop in sport and also improve my quality of life. Two wins at once, in other words!" says Kirill.
KSA Silmakeskus was chosen because, in the young man's words, the clinic has always maintained a strong reputation for its punctual work and reliable results. "In addition, many of my friends had had their vision corrected at KSA, and I had heard only positive feedback about the clinic," he recalls.
The day of the Flow3 laser procedure went exactly as the KSA staff had described. "There were a few nerves, naturally, but I knew I had done everything the doctors recommended to ensure the procedure would go smoothly. The procedure itself was truly very quick, and after a short while I was already back home. Since I had some tiring training sessions behind me, I took it easy, rested, and slept through most of the first recovery day," Kirill describes his experience.
Kirill at KSA Silmakeskus after the Flow3 laser procedure
Better vision gains valuable seconds in sport
Further recovery also went very well, according to Kirill. "I only felt discomfort for the first couple of days, and I was back training just one week after the laser procedure." By now, three months have passed since Kirill's procedure, and his "new" vision is with him every day.
"The biggest change is definitely that I wake up happy every morning. I no longer have to put glasses on to see clearly — now I see beautifully with my own eyes," says Kirill. The difference is noticeable in cycling too. "Since I've now recovered sufficiently and completed my first races, I've noticed an incredible difference in how I handle the bike. I can see every small detail, and that has already taken me to the next level," Kirill is pleased to say.
"If I'm being honest, I used to not understand why people who had been through a laser procedure spoke about it with such enthusiasm. It seemed a little overstated. But now that I've experienced that change myself, I can confidently say that the improvement in quality of life is genuinely remarkable! If you've ever had the thought of getting a laser procedure, just go ahead and do it!" Kirill recommends.
When we asked what Kirill's goals are in cycling for the future, he answered: "I want to give everything I possibly can to fly the Estonian flag even higher at upcoming competitions!" We have no doubt that Kirill will do exactly that. We're rooting for him with everything we have, wish him the best of luck, and hope that with his focus firmly in place, there are no limits to what he can achieve!
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