Christine Majerus to retire after 2024 Olympics - "It was about trying to become the best team in the world, and that was quickly done"

Veteran 35 years old Luxembourg rider from SD Worx Christine Majerus revealed that she is going to retire after 2024 Paris Olympic Games. In 15 years of career (and she will be racing 2 more, 2023 and 2024), she gained the reputation as one of the best domestiques in Women's Road Cycling.

Being a key rider for the victories of her teammates in important races like the Spring Classics and Grand Tours. With strong against the clock skills, Majerus not only helped her teammates, but also achieved some success on his own. She has also won the 2019 edition of Simac Ladies Tour and the 2017 edition of Festival Elsy Jacobs, a significant stage race in her home country Luxembourg. Besides those 2 GC wins, she also secured 13 times the Luxembourg Road Race title and 16 times the ITT title, winning also 12 times the Cyclocross one. She is by far the most accomplished women in Luxembourg cycling history so far.

“It's good to choose your moment where to stop. I think I've had a pretty nice career, and I've tried to keep my level and do my best for the team. I still have a little personal goal to make it to the Paris Olympics in 2024, which is right next to me, so that would be pleasant to finish my career at those Olympics, and then I think I have given enough to the cycling world”, stated Majerus to Cyclingnews portal.

Majerus made her professional debut in 2008 with the French team ESGL 93 – GSD Gestion, she then spent a season (2013) with the Belgians Sengers Ladies Cycling Team before finally signing with Boels - Dolmans Cycling Team the current SD Worx team in 2014. 15 years have passed since she started cycling at high level and a lot of things changed for better both in professional Women's Cycling and on his current team, the dominant SD Worx Dutch team.

“It's interesting to see how everything developed, quite fast, and linked to how women's cycling developed. Everything became more professional. When I started [at Boels Dolmans], it was about trying to become the best team in the world, and that was quickly done. The goal changed to staying number one, which was hard work, also because all the other teams stepped up, and it never got easier. We always made it happen."

"That's a great achievement. It's becoming more professional every year and paying attention to all the details. The base of the team always stays a bit the same, the family part, and Danny [Stam] brings in good additions to make the team stronger from year-to-year. SD Worx stepped in as a bigger sponsor, and it's good to have those kinds of sponsors in women's cycling to help young riders to develop,” Majerus said about this.

The veteran rider has been on the team for 9 years and is expected to finish her career being 10 years with them. She witnessed and was part of a good amount of her team successes that eventually made the team the best Women's Team in Women's Cycling History so far. And her current team's manager, Danny Stam, couldn't be more grateful for her service.

“Nobody knows how important Christine is in the development of this team. If you can stay for 10 years within a team and do such a great job, as Christine does, everyone knows how much of a good rider and good person that she is. Everyone needs to know, we always speak about the winners, but it's never possible without riders like Christine."

"She is one of the most significant keys to getting your victories done. Every year we want to be the number one, but that is not possible without riders like Christine. It is a big compliment to her as a rider and as a person. Thank you, Christine”, said Stam thanking Majerus.

Data powered by FirstCycling.com