Rafal Majka discussion thread

[alin.constantin89]

And Aru was 42nd in the Giro last year. Stop jumping to conclusions.

We are talking about THIS year. Majka is no match for Nibali's men.

 

[damian13ster]

We are talking about THIS year. Majka is no match for Nibali's men.

Sorry man.....all of this is because of mountain TT in which Aru was great but Majka was sick and couldnt compete on his level.
He is on a very similar level to Aru, maybe bit worse climbing wise, and much better on TT. Of course he won only because of not being GC threat, otherwise all MTF stages would be Nibali's. That doesnt change the fact he is climbing well and first look at the climbing times today show that he was in top 5. (i dont know exactly since I dont remmeber exact gaps before the climb)

 

[jilbiker]

Not feeling the love for Majka in this discussion thread. I think he is still maturing but I think its just not enough people believe in his ability. If he doesn't get that from Tinkoff next year he should leave, He has never been regarded as a true GC leader by his team-mates.

"Big boys"----can't stand that phrase. Go to a team that appreciates you and where they will all ride for you in competition.

I have to criticize Tinkoff. AC welds them together, if AC isn't there in any competition, they seem to be everyone for himself...

 

[sultanofhyd]

Not feeling the love for Majka in this discussion thread. I think he is still maturing but I think its just not enough people believe in his ability. If he doesn't get that from Tinkoff next year he should leave, He has never been regarded as a true GC leader by his team-mates.

"Big boys"----can't stand that phrase. Go to a team that appreciates you and where they will all ride for you in competition.

I have to criticize Tinkoff. AC welds them together, if AC isn't there in any competition, they seem to be everyone for himself...

Is that why Roche killed himself all day today for Majka?

 

[nilfen]

Not feeling the love for Majka in this discussion thread. I think he is still maturing but I think its just not enough people believe in his ability. If he doesn't get that from Tinkoff next year he should leave, He has never been regarded as a true GC leader by his team-mates.

"Big boys"----can't stand that phrase. Go to a team that appreciates you and where they will all ride for you in competition.

I have to criticize Tinkoff. AC welds them together, if AC isn't there in any competition, they seem to be everyone for himself...

Wait, what?!

For the last two years the team has seen him as a leader and a coming man and is nursing him forward. Have only heard support and respect from his teammates when they talk about him.

And it seems the team is working well together after Contador left - seen the interviews and afternoon dinners? Everyone seems really happy for their succes.

In fact, I have the exact opposite impression than you.

 

[Czapiewski]

Nibali's men, Aru, kicked Majka's *** in Giro, he's no match for the big guys.

And where is Aru now? Hard to discuss this way.

 

[Netserk]

Not feeling the love for Majka in this discussion thread. I think he is still maturing but I think its just not enough people believe in his ability. If he doesn't get that from Tinkoff next year he should leave, He has never been regarded as a true GC leader by his team-mates.

"Big boys"----can't stand that phrase. Go to a team that appreciates you and where they will all ride for you in competition.

I have to criticize Tinkoff. AC welds them together, if AC isn't there in any competition, they seem to be everyone for himself...

So why was he planned to lead a GT in his very first season on the team, and the following two years been captain in the Giro?

 

[MBotero]

I really like this guy,very impressive performances shown this TDF.I have more trust in him to achieve big things in the future,then the young french guys that almost everybody is praising.I find it funny that still people don't recognize his talents.

 

[inthepink]

Majka is talented but so are alot of the other youngsters like Aru, Kelderman , etc And Quintana is amasing

Majka has got so much support for TCS ....more than he would get at another team IMO ...Of course now he will be in high demand from other teams but so many of his team mates have ridden for him

Roche buried himself for him today and he would have liked to go for a stage win I am sure

The best thing he and his supporters could do is not get carried away as many good riders sink under the level of expectation

And don't think for a moment his success is not in a major part down to Bjarne Riis ....afterall Majka threw a wobbly when first asked to ride the Tour, he did nothing in the first 10 stages .....in fact he has been given a great opportunity

 

[Jancouver]

I really like this guy,very impressive performances shown this TDF.I have more trust in him to achieve big things in the future,then the young french guys that almost everybody is praising.I find it funny that still people don't recognize his talents.

Talent for sure but dont forget that the first two weeks he was sitting in and was not doing any work for Contador while Rogers, Roche and others were on full duty. It is much easier to chase stages when you have no other duties or to ride day after day for GC results or GC leader.

 

[RedheadDane]

Talent for sure but dont forget that the first two weeks he was sitting in and was not doing any work for Contador while Rogers, Roche and others were on full duty. It is much easier to chase stages when you have no other duties or to ride day after day for GC results or GC leader.

Uhm... I remember him doing a fairly long pull for Contador on either stage 8 or 9. (the first week)
And how the heck was he - or anybody - supposed to be working for Contador in the second week?

 

[Ledigi]

I'm disturbed at the lack of reaction from media to moto hanging (it was exactly when he dropped Purito). The attack on moto slipstream was at most gamey but hanging on motorbikes should raise few voices.

I don't like this guy.

 

[sir fly]

The kid bought me with his antics today.
But he'll have to change the environment to get my full support.

 

[Netserk]

Lol what a punishment he got:

-10'' in GC
-5 points (green jersey)
-50CHF

 

[damian13ster]

http://www.climbing-records.com/2014/07/impressive-ascent-times-on-pla-dadet.html

Lost 1:18 to Nibali and Peraud on this climb, so 27 seconds to Valverde, 22 to TJVG, Pinot, 12 to Ten Dam.

So by my count he was 7th fastest on that climb, which is really good considering he was in a breakaway, didnt have to go 100% all the time, and did huge part of the climb by himself.

 

[cineteq]

I'm disturbed at the lack of reaction from media to moto hanging (it was exactly when he dropped Purito). The attack on moto slipstream was at most gamey but hanging on motorbikes should raise few voices.

I don't like this guy.

You right, he gained 2 seconds by doing that, otherwise he wouldn't have caught Visconti. Should he be DQ'd? Btw, isn't drafting cars worse than this?

 

[Czapiewski]

Majka is talented but so are alot of the other youngsters like Aru, Kelderman , etc And Quintana is amasing

Majka has got so much support for TCS ....more than he would get at another team IMO ...Of course now he will be in high demand from other teams but so many of his team mates have ridden for him

Roche buried himself for him today and he would have liked to go for a stage win I am sure

The best thing he and his supporters could do is not get carried away as many good riders sink under the level of expectation

And don't think for a moment his success is not in a major part down to Bjarne Riis ....afterall Majka threw a wobbly when first asked to ride the Tour, he did nothing in the first 10 stages .....in fact he has been given a great opportunity

Two sides of the coin. Majka did not have much support in Giro, Roche especially was riding his own race. His first week of tanking ind TDF was not a choice, rather a must, as he had only two weeks of traning I think. Still, You maybe right, development of young cyclist is not a rocket science. Majka may not do much more in future, but hard not to have expectations, as in a few days he tripled the number of stage victiories in TDF for Polish cyclists.

 

[damian13ster]

I'm disturbed at the lack of reaction from media to moto hanging (it was exactly when he dropped Purito). The attack on moto slipstream was at most gamey but hanging on motorbikes should raise few voices.

I don't like this guy.

He didnt hang on to it. Just gave himself a push. Didnt gain anything by it.....

 

[sir fly]

Lol what a punishment he got:

-10'' in GC
-5 points (green jersey)
-50CHF

If I were Riis I'd lodge a complaint.
Just to keep the cabaret going.

 

[SeriousSam]

Majka is rapidly closing in on Contador's number of TdF stage wins.

 

[Cance > TheRest]

Majka is rapidly closing in on Contador's number of TdF stage wins.

1 more to go. AC didn't win a lot of stages when he won the Tour - 2007:1, 2009:2 and 2010:0. Next year will be different though, when he gets his 4th overall TDF victory + a handful of stages

 

[Jancouver]

Uhm... I remember him doing a fairly long pull for Contador on either stage 8 or 9. (the first week)
And how the heck was he - or anybody - supposed to be working for Contador in the second week?

He was not participating at all the first week, then he maybe took one pull for Contador before he crashed out. Then he was sitting for 12km on Konig's wheel just to jump him for second place. Today he was holding on to the motorbike and drafting. IMHO he is a dirty selfish a-hole and he will get no love from me.

 

[difdauf]

Talent for sure but dont forget that the first two weeks he was sitting in and was not doing any work for Contador while Rogers, Roche and others were on full duty. It is much easier to chase stages when you have no other duties or to ride day after day for GC results or GC leader.

Exactly, why shouldn't he or some other great talents ride the same way next year ? This is so boring when climbers ride after overall classification or for someone else.

Who will remember the results of Schleck, Zubeldia, Mollema, Ten Dam, Van den Broeck or Konig in this tour ? Rolland could even finish before them without trying, just with break aways.

Don't become boring Majka ! Lose 20 min and fly !

 

[inthepink]

Two sides of the coin. Majka did not have much support in Giro, Roche especially was riding his own race. His first week of tanking ind TDF was not a choice, rather a must, as he had only two weeks of traning I think. Still, You maybe right, development of young cyclist is not a rocket science. Majka may not do much more in future, but hard not to have expectations, as in a few days he tripled the number of stage victiories in TDF for Polish cyclists.

Roche was told he was co leader and could go for stages , which he did as did Mick Rodgers ...Unfair to pick on Roche ...he did ride for him but he didn't have any climbing form...

I think Majka is lucky to be in TCS and moaning about his teammates is uncalled for , esp when you see how they support him

 

[Czapiewski]

Rodgers was really helping Majka, still able to win two stages for himself. I remember a few situations where the help of Roche was needed, still he made some unreasonable attacks. And Majka has never been moaning about teammates.

EDIT: And still I think Majka is lucky to be in Saxo.