'Like a killer' - How Majka found true calling as Pogacar's super domestique

In May, Rafał Majka was UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s most valuable climbing domestique on the Giro d’Italia. In June, he became Polish champion for the second time. In July, he placed third at the Tour of Austria while guiding an irresistible Isaac del Toro to overall victory.

Nothing about that schedule suggested this was a man winding down towards retirement, but then that was the way Majka had planned it. Although the announcement came on the eve of the Tour de Pologne, the decision had already been taken last winter. Nothing that happened this season was going to change his mind.

“I decided in January, and I said to the team that I wanted to stop at a high level,” Majka said in Wroclaw at the Tour de Pologne, smiling when asked if he’d had second thoughts in May. 

“After the Giro, I was still thinking about maybe doing one year more, because you know you still have the high level, and you feel the buzz. 

“But it’s also important to be with my family after living out of a suitcase for so many years. You see the kids are growing up and you’re never home like a normal person. So I want to live and enjoy the bike more.”

A native of Zegartowice, Majka served his cycling apprenticeship as an amateur in Italy before turning professional with Bjarne Riis’ Saxo Bank in 2011. In those early years, he frequently led the team at the Giro d’Italia while riding for Alberto Contador at the Tour de France, though he still had some cameos of his own in July. He was king of the mountains in 2014 and 2016, and he also notched up three mountain stage wins, while he claimed a bronze medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

Third place on the 2015 Vuelta a España underlined his Grand Tour credentials, and Majka would sign for Bora-Hansgrohe as a leader in 2018. He reckons his true calling, however, only came when he joined Tadej Pogačar’s guard in 2021. 

“I won races, I did top three in the Vuelta and the Olympics, but in the end, when you come to UAE, it’s like coming into a family,” Majka said. “I had more domestique work, but it’s nice to work for the best rider in the world in Tadej Pogačar. It’s easier, also for my head. 

“I’ve enjoyed this last five years more. Of course, I also enjoyed being a leader with Bora and Tinkoff, but when you’re older, you say ‘yeah, maybe it’s better to be a domestique.’

It's fitting, then, that Majka’s season continued all the way to Il Lombardia in October, where he brought the curtain down on his career by trying to help Pogačar to a fifth straight win.

It goes without saying that Pogačar is the best rider Majka has raced with, but the 35-year-old rates him as the best leader too.

“He’s a normal person. I’ve spent a lot of time with him in the room, and he’s a nice guy – but when he’s on the bike, he’s like a killer,” laughed Majka, who backed his friend’s decision not to race the Vuelta a España.

“I think it’s smart not to do the Vuelta, especially when the Tour was so hard. I think the average speed was 42kph, so it’s better to rest for the next seasons, because he can win a lot more races.”

It’s only fitting, then, that Majka elected to extend his season all the way to Il Lombardia in October. He has been at Pogačar’s side for each of his four Il Lombardia victories, and the idea – or the dream – is that he will sign off his career with a fifth win. “It’s so nice to finish then in Lombardia,” Majka said. “I’m so happy with my career and now I want to enjoy a bit the life.”

Before the start of Il Lombardia on Saturday, Pogačar echoed similar sentiments to before speaking to Cyclingpronet, "It's been such an honour to ride with him, he was my big brother, my mentor through these last few years. We've been through so much together. He helped me to become what I've become, and I will miss him so much after today."

For Majka, it was a moment to reflect ahead of the start of Il Lombardia, and the Pole felt grateful and proud to end a successful career on his own terms.

“It’s been a really hard career, it’s nice to finish in Lombardy. I’m really proud of my career, and we’re going to give it our all for Tadej Pogačar. Thanks to everybody who has cheered for me across the course of my career,” Majka said to Cyclingpronet before the start of the final monument and race of his career. 

“Well, really, Rio de Janeiro (2016 Olympics) Tour de France stage wins as well, they are going to stay in my memory,” said Majka when asked what his best memories of his career are.