Where is the correct place to place the POST validator?

Question

Node.js

Good afternoon, I use express-validator, I can not decide where it is better to place the validator.
I use this approach:

router

middleware is no longer built in.

const router  = express.Router();
const userController = require('./userController');

router.route('/')
  .get(userController.getAll)
  .post(userController.create);

controller:

exports.create = async (req, res, next) => {
  const validator = require('./validators/userCreate'); // Чтобы грузить только при создании
  await validator(req, res);

  try {
    const user = await userService.create(req.body);
    res.status(201).json(user);
  } catch(err) {
    res.status(422).json({ message: err.message });
  }
};

In order for the validator to be loaded only when created, I request it (require) in a specific controller action.

The validator itself

const { body, validationResult } = require('express-validator');
modules.exports = validate([ body('email').isEmail(), body('name').isString() ]);

const validate = (validators) => { // хранится в utils, тут для наглядности
  return async (req, res) => {
    await Promise.all(validators.map((validator) => validator.run(req)));

    const errors = validationResult();
    if (!errors.isEmpty) {
      res.status(422).send({ errors: errors.array() });
    } 
     // будь это полноценным middleware, тут было бы next()
  }
};

All doubts come down to the fact that my validator is kind of middleware, but I can’t place it in the chain , because validators are very voluminous and I want to load them only with the right action .

How successful is my solution, or how are things like this implemented?