"Tadej talks less but wins more" - Rafal Majka compares Pogacar & Alberto Contador after career riding in service of Grand Tour legends

Rafal Majka has spent his career in the service of champions. From Alberto Contador at Saxo Bank, through Peter Sagan in his BORA - hansgrohe years, to the current era alongside Tadej Pogacar at UAE Team Emirates - XRG, the Pole has been the rider teams could trust to deliver when it mattered most.

As he prepares to call time on a professional journey that began in 2011, Majka reflected on what unites the three stars who defined his path. “They’re all incredibly strong mentally,” he explained in conversation with Bici.Pro. “Alberto was able to say he’d win the Giro, Tour, or Vuelta – and then actually do it. Sagan, when he was on form, could win everything – three World Championships in a row is not normal. And then there’s Tadej, who doesn’t say much, but wins everything. Pogacar talks less, but wins more.”

In an age when riders often change teams, Majka’s longevity stands out. He spent six years under Bjarne Riis and Oleg Tinkov, four at BORA, and the past five at UAE. Each stint, he says, reflected both trust and timing.

“At Saxo Bank I always had confidence and eventually became a leader myself, but could also help Contador. At Bora I was the sole GC captain and it became stressful – after four years I needed a change. Then came UAE, where I knew there was a young rider called Pogacar. I thought he’d win a race or two, but suddenly I found myself with someone who wins everything and will become a legend. For me it’s been fun, racing with the best rider in the world – maybe the best in history. This team is like a family, and I know I’ll miss it.”

Majka insists the choice to embrace the domestique role was deliberate, not forced. “By 30 I realised it was better to be a good domestique than win just one or two races a year. So I joined UAE, without knowing just how strong Pogacar would become. Helping him is a different kind of stress – you need to be ready the moment he asks. But it’s easier to carry because he can genuinely win everything. That’s why I could still keep going – I’m not worn out.”

Even so, retirement beckons. Despite podiums in Austria, celebrations in his native Poland, and recent success shepherding Isaac Del Toro in Tuscany, Majka announced that 2025 would be his last season. “I still have the motivation to ride and train, but the decision came from my family – I want to spend time with my kids. I’ve been away for 24 years, eight months a year on the road. They’re five and nine now – time passes quickly.”

This year’s Giro d’Italia offered a glimpse of the future. Del Toro carried pink into the penultimate day before losing out, but Majka remains convinced the Mexican is destined for glory. “To wear the maglia rosa until almost the end at 21 is incredible. Maybe he lacked some experience, but he’s strong. He’ll go well at the Worlds and in the future he’ll win a Grand Tour.”

He also offered a parting word for Juan Ayuso, who will leave UAE at the end of the season. “My advice? Go full gas. Train 100 per cent and go hard. Ayuso has the talent to succeed anywhere.”

Majka admits he will miss the rhythms of the peloton. “If you’ve done the same thing since you were young, it’s impossible not to. But I want to enjoy the bike differently – ride without looking at watts, enjoy nature, do kilometres in another spirit.”

And as for becoming a directeur sportif? He won’t be drawn yet. “Ask me again in four months,” he smiled. “First I want to rest properly. After that, we’ll talk about the future, because I don’t want to leave behind a world I love so much.”