Rafał Majka on the lips of the whole world. The Pole was farewelled like a great champion
It was a special day for Rafał Majka. The Polish cyclist reached the finish line for the last time. It took place during the Italian Il Lombardia race.
It has been known for some time that Rafał Majka is ending his professional career. The Pole argued that this was his last season of racing. One of the most outstanding road cyclists in recent years, riding for the UAE Team Emirates, once again showed great class. It is hardly surprising that his employers argued until the very end that Majka should be among the world’s best for at least one more season.
Rafał Majka said goodbye to cycling. Beautiful gestures by Tadej Pogachar
The Polish cyclist turned 36 in September this year. Majka, apart from his club successes, is also an Olympic medalist. In 2016, during the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, he won a bronze medal in the mass start race.
As for individual achievements, Majka, among others, he was the first Polish cyclist in history to win the Tour de France mountain classification (2014). However, the Pole also shined during other classics. The Spanish Vuelta a Espana? Third place in the general classification in 2015.
Majka also won the Tour de Pologne, winning the general classification in 2014. Additionally, during the Italian Giro d’Italia, the Polish mountain racing specialist took 5th place in 2016.
As for his farewell on Saturday, October 11, 2025 (it’s worth remembering this date!), Majka was treated by other cyclists like a real, great champion. A beautiful line right at the beginning, and then every now and then there are new, important accents related to the Polish cyclist.
Including the fans, who, equipped with white and red flags, simply did not disappoint, cheering their idol very hard.
It was similar in the case of Tadej Pogaczar. The Slovenian, who won for the fifth time in a row in Lombardy, could once again benefit from great support from Majka, attacking after the work done by his Polish friend – as the currently best cyclist in the world emphasizes.
And Majka? In his own style, he did the work, hard and demanding, but leading to team success. “Dobby”, as they call the Pole – of course in a positive context – retained his great sportsmanship until the end.
Leaving on your own terms, which is also extremely important. Appreciated by everyone realizing it was over. Although the Pole will probably still be close to cycling, although in a completely different role.
