Rafał Majka announces his retirement
Rafał Majka has announced via Instagram reel that he will retire at the end of the 2025 season, bringing to an end 15 years in the pro peloton, including five as a key domestique in some of Tadej Pogačar's biggest victories with UAE Team Emirates.
Majka turned pro in 2011 with Saxo Bank-Sungard, which later became the famed Tinkoff team, where the Polish climber achieved his biggest personal results, including third at the Vuelta a España in 2015, three Tour de France stage wins and two polka-dot jerseys in 2014 and '16. After four years at Bora-Hansgrohe, Majka moved over to UAE and became integral as Pogačar's helper in the mountains, capping off the partnership at the 2024 Giro d'Italia.
The newly crowned Polish national champion will make his final appearance at his home stage race next week as leader of UAE Team Emirates-XRG. It's not yet known where Majka is likely to take his final bow, but he rarely steers clear of the late-season Italian one-days, so Il Lombardia – which he's only missed once since 2011 – is a good bet.
