UAE Team Emirates rope in Majka

Dubai: Rafal Majka will be a UAE Team Emirates rider for the next two seasons. The climber from Krakow will add strength on the hills to the squad led by Mauro Gianetti.

“With Rafal, our group of climbers is getting a strong boost” says Team Principal Mauro Gianetti, “we are sure that in addition to being a solid wing-man for Tadej Pogacar, he will also be able to target his personal ambitions and be given some freedom.”

Rafal Majka said, “I am very happy to have been given this opportunity at this point in my career. I will work for Pogačar when necessary, but I will also try to carve out chances for myself when I can.

“Races like Tirreno-Adriatico, the Tour de Suisse and also the Vuelta a Espana, are the races where I usually find good form. In that sense I’m not your typical Polish rider – I love the heat. A dream result would be a world championships medal to add to the Olympic one.”

Meanwhile, after tasting success at the Tour of Flanders in 2015 and finishing third in 2019, UAE Team Emirates’ Scandinavian sprinter Alexander Kristoff once again demonstrated his strength when it comes to racing the ‘Ronde’.

The Norwegian won the sprint from the group of favourites at the finish line, after the duo of Mathieu Van Der Poel (Alpecin-Fenix) and Wout van Aert (Team Jumbo-Visma) first and second respectively, finished a handful of seconds ahead of the group.

The pair had been part of a three-man break with world champion Julian Alaphilippe until the Frenchman crashed after clipping a race organisation motorbike with 35km remaining. Kristoff timed his sprint to perfection in the final metres and claimed the final place on the podium, just like last year.

Alexander Kristoff said: “It was a good day and I’m happy to have made the podium. I had to do a very long sprint due to Asgreen’s attack, but still managed to hold-off Turgis and Lampaert. The front two had another gear today, they were the strongest. This is my favourite race and I’ve managed to get a lot of great results here over the years.”

Earlier, after a brilliant career as a cyclist, the Italian has started an equally promising one as sporting director. His most impressive achievements include Cadel Evans’ victory in the Tour de France in 2011 and also Greg Van Avermaet’s Paris Roubaix win in 2017.

“Baldato will strengthen our technical department from 2021” says Team Principal Mauro Gianetti.