Portuguese youngster attacks with 21km to go and takes his second victory of the season in style, winning alone in Figueira da Foz
Sunday 16 February, 2025
Racing on home shores for the first time this season, António Morgado produced a ride of the highest calibre to win the Figueira Champions Classic on Sunday afternoon. The Portuguese rider attacked 21km from the finish and held off his pursuers to take his second victory of the season and UAE Team Emirates-XRG‘s seventh of the fledgling campaign.
Throughout the finale, the Emirati squad were well positioned with Morgado joined by João Almeida and Jan Christen in the select group of favourites. All three were strong contenders for victory on the rolling parcours in this one-day test, but it was Morgado who soared towards the summit of the Rua Parque Florestal climb. Sensing his opportunity to go clear from a select group, the 21-year-old made a tremendous acceleration and quickly developed a gap to those behind him.
Immediately settling into his groove, Morgado did not look back, at one point stretching his advantage over the chasers in excess of 30 seconds. Mikkel Honoré (EF Education-EasyPost) and Jon Agirre (Euskaltel-Euskadi) emerged as Morgado’s toughest pursuers, but the pair could not catch the UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider as the final couple of kilometres came into view. In their place, Soudal Quick-Step led the reduced group of favourites, hoping to tee up a sprint finish for their fast man, Paul Magnier.
Try as they might, Morgado was not to be stopped on Sunday. As the finish approached, the Portuguese had pistons for legs and powered his way to the line, becoming the first home winner of this race in its short three-year history. Behind Morgado, Magnier sprinted to second place, five seconds down on the race winner, with Mathias Vacek of Lidl-Trek rounding out the day’s podium in third.
Earlier in the race, UAE Team Emirates-XRG remained attentive as the day’s breakaway was caught and Ineos Grenadiers’ Filippo Ganna made a bold attack. The Italian established a handy gap over the peloton, which was dwindling in number, but the former world time trial champion was caught as the penultimate climb began to bite.
It was at this moment that Morgado seized his opportunity and flew the coop, riding alone for nigh on 21km to claim an incredible victory.
Morgado: “This win feels really special for me. I’ve been training well and my sensations are very good on the bike so I knew if all went well that I would have a chance today.
“I felt good during the race and our team was strong. From last year I knew the critical moment would probably be on the steep climb where I attacked so I saw my moment to move and I took it.
“For me I’m so happy and proud to win here in Portugal. Like the Belgians want to win in Belgium and the French want to win in France… I’m no different. This is the only professional Classic we have here in Portugal and to win it is a big deal for me.”
Figueira Champions Classic results
- António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:35:37
- Paul Magnier (Soudal Quick-Step) +5″
- Mathias Vacek (Lidl-Trek) s.t
