António Morgado goes back-to-back at Figueira Champions Classic

António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) outsprinted Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) in a two-man sprint to the line to defend his title at the Figueira Champions Classic in Portugal. 

The 22-year-old Portuguese rider lived up to the mantle as defending champion and was part of a key selection made inside the final 20km. Morgado was in the selective group alongside teammate Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG), who played the perfect team role before the Portuguese rider and Aranburu drew clear with 7km remaining. 

Morgado had to lead the sprint out with Aranburu making the call to sit on the Portuguese rider’s wheel inside the final kilometre, with a chasing duo of Pau Martí (NSN) and Jarno Widar (Intermarché-Lotto) not too far behind. 

However, this wasn’t to stop Morgado from beating the former Spanish champion in the final sprint in Figueira da Foz, and taking his second victory of 2026 after winning the Trofeo Calvià, also in a two-man sprint finish. Spanish rider Martí rounded out the podium with Widar in 4th. McNulty came home in sixth after his selfless performance in the finale.

A five-rider breakaway of Portuguese riders formed, featuring Rafael Reis (Anicolor/Campicarn), Pedro Pinto (Efapel), Daniel Viegas (Aviludo-Louletano-Loulé), Diogo Pinto and Diogo Narciso (Credibom/LA Alumínios /Marcos Car)

Following the first categorised climb, the dynamic changed with Reis and Pinto being joined by Cedric Beullens (Intermarché-Lotto) and Iker Gómez (Equipo Kern Pharma), as the rest of the breakaway riders were reeled in. Reis was distanced from the front with 50km remaining.

Daniel Felipe Martínez (Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe) launched an attack from the peloton with little under 50km remaining on the Rua Parque Florestal and drew a group of riders clear, featuring McNulty, Riley Sheehan (NSN), and Max Poole (Picnic PostNL).

The quartet would join the front trio before they were all swept up by the peloton heading into the final lap of racing. 

On the final ascent of the Rua Parque Florestal with 20km remaining, McNulty, despite his previous efforts, was pushing the pace on the front of the bunch. 

Over the summit, a seven-man group formed, including Martínez, Martí, Thomas Gloag (Pinarello-Q36.5), Aranburu (Cofidis), Widar, as well as McNulty and his teammate and defending champion Morgado.

The peloton, which was around 30 riders in size, was nearly 0:30 behind the Septet with McNulty doing the bulk of the work. With 10km remaining, the gap had reduced to around the 0:10 mark, with McNulty still driving the pace in the lead group.

Aranburu launched an attack with 7km remaining and was shortly countered by Morgado. The former Spanish champion Aranburu had to dig deep to get on the wheel of the defending champion, as the duo pulled clear of the rest.

Martí and Widar were the two riders in the chase, but the front duo had enough of an advantage to prepare for the final sprint.

Aranburu decided to sit on Morgado’s wheel inside the final kilometre, backing his sprint finish. However, Morgado proved to be the fastest in the finish and doubled up with a repeat win at the Figueira Champions Classic.

After the finish, Morgado was beaming as he reflected on a victory on home roads. “I’m thrilled to take the win here in Portugal. The team was phenomenal, the strength and the way they worked was impressive. We are lucky to have a group this strong and motivated,” he said.

Morgado also pointed to the tactical nature of the final sprint against Aranburu. “I knew Aranburu had a good finish, but in a long sprint I can hold my power quite well and in the end it counted,” he explained. 

“This is a special race for me, especially since I won it last year. To already take my second win of the year is amazing and I hope we can continue like this as we head into the Volta ao Algarve.”