Tadej Pogacar's right-hand man postpones retirement to assist the Slovenian for one more year
Cycling
UAE Team Emirates will count on the experience and strength of one of the best climbers in the pro peloton with Rafal Majka extending his current deal until the end of 2025.
Majka is one of those riders who have around for so long that many may forget that the 35-year-old rider podiumed Vuelta a Espana nine years ago. In addition, he also won three stages and two polka dot jerseys at Tour de France in the period.
Majka's last "big year" was in 2019 when he finish sixth overall at both Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a Espana. In Spain, he crossed paths with then 20 years old youngster Tadej Pogacar who podiumed the race. Two years later, he was part of the team that guided the Slovenian towards his second Tour victory. This year, when Pogacar won his first Giro d'Italia, you could guess Rafal Majka was once again his teammate.
"I’m very pleased to be staying here at UAE for next season," Majka expressed in press release. "I feel very at home in this team and excited for what we can achieve over the next year. I think I still have a lot to give to the team and have found a role which I am enjoying a lot."
Team manager Mauro Gianetti is also more than happy to keep the Polish climber who assisted Tadej Pogacar on so many victories on-board for another year. "We are happy to have Rafal with us again for 2025. It’s a team which has a lot of young talents but also a rider like Rafal with his experience and qualities can have an important part to play. Majka is an example of a rider who has grown into his role in the team and is still one of the best climbers in the world on his day."
Entering his fifth season at UAE Team Emirates, it doesn't seem like Majka will wear different jersey during his career. Whether he chooses to continue beyond 2025 is yet to be seen.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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🇵🇱 Rafał Majka 🤝 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ 🖋️ We‘re thrilled to announce that @majkaformal has signed a contract extension until the end of 2025. Full story: uaeteamemirates.com/rafal-majka-re… #UAETeamEmirates #WeAreUAE
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