“Emotional Farewell: Rafal Majka’s Heartfelt Letter to Tadej Pogačar After Retirement Stuns Cycling World”

In an emotional moment that shook the cycling community, Rafal Majka has officially announced his retirement from professional cycling — but it was his final message to Tadej Pogačar that truly captured hearts worldwide. The Polish climber, known for his quiet strength and unwavering loyalty, chose to go out not with fanfare, but with a deeply personal letter to the teammate he’s stood beside through triumphs and heartbreaks.

“Although the final stage of the Tour de Pologne was really fierce, I am proud to have held my position until the finish line… Thank you Pogacar, for everything,” Majka wrote in a message that has since gone viral across social media. The words were simple, yet heavy with meaning — a final salute from a warrior who gave his all for the sport and for his team.

The letter was more than a goodbye. It was a tribute to friendship, to sacrifice, and to a bond forged over years of racing together on some of the world’s toughest roads. Majka, who has long been seen as one of the most selfless domestiques in the peloton, revealed in his letter a priceless gift he had been working on quietly for months — a handcrafted cycling sculpture made entirely from parts of his retired bike, which he personally delivered to Pogačar in their shared team bus, just moments after his final race in his hometown of Zegartowice.

Sources close to the team say Pogačar was visibly emotional upon receiving the gift. “He didn’t say a word. He just hugged Rafal for a long time,” one team staffer shared. The moment was not captured on camera — intentionally — as per Majka’s wishes. “This was not for the press. It was between brothers,” the same source added.

Majka’s letter continued with reflections on his career, touching on the highs of his Tour de France stage wins and the lows of injury and defeat, but always circling back to the theme of gratitude — especially toward Pogačar, whom he described as “not just a champion, but a true friend and leader.”

Pogačar responded later that evening with a heartfelt Instagram post, sharing a photo of the sculpture alongside the caption: “You carried me up mountains. You kept me safe when I couldn’t protect myself. Rafal, your legacy is in every win I’ve had. Thank you, my brother.”

Fans flooded the comments with messages of thanks and support, calling the exchange “the most touching moment in modern cycling” and praising Majka for going out with humility and class. Even rival teams joined in, with tributes from across the cycling world pouring in for the Polish veteran.

Majka’s retirement had been rumored for months, but few expected it would come immediately after his home race. The final stage of the Tour de Pologne saw him digging deep one last time, finishing mid-pack but with the same quiet determination that defined his career.

At 36, Majka leaves behind not only a list of achievements but also a reputation as one of the most respected teammates in the sport. His retirement marks the end of an era — not because he was the loudest, the fastest, or the flashiest, but because he embodied the soul of cycling: loyalty, grit, and heart.

As the sun set over the Polish hills that had watched him grow from a local boy to an international star, Rafal Majka walked away from the bike. But he didn’t leave empty-handed. He left with memories, with respect — and with a brotherhood that will last far beyond the final finish line.