António Morgado opens up the European season with top-10 finish

UAE Team Emirates-XRG began the European leg of the 2026 campaign on Friday afternoon, with António Morgado placing best at the Classica Camp de Morvedre. The young Portuguese talent came across the line in eighth place, with Christian Scaroni of XDS Astana Team taking the day’s victory.

Scaroni went up the road alongside Diego Pescador (Movistar) and Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) on the final climb of the day, with the three riders contesting the win in a sprint. Morgado, meanwhile, remained with a strong chasing group and used his powers of acceleration to seal a top-10 finish.

Earlier in the race, it had been Morgado’s UAE Team Emirates-XRG teammates Marc Soler and Pablo Torres who had left a big impression, with the pair combining on the penultimate ascent of the Alto del Garbí.

Stretching out for 5.1km at 9.2%, the climb was featured twice in the final 50km of racing, and it was on the second-to-last ascent that UAE Team Emirates-XRG jerseys amassed towards the front of the peloton. As attacks began to fly from the likes of Jayco AlUla and Soudal Quick-Step, it was the young Torres who showed his face for the first time in 2026.

The 20-year-old is beginning just his second season as a professional, and looked in good condition when he clipped off the front of the pack. Torres was soon joined by the eventual runner-up, Pescador, among others.

Under the impetus of XDS Astana Team behind, the attack of Torres and co. was momentarily squashed, but Soler was the next to take his leave from the peloton. The experienced Spaniard launched a strong acceleration and traded attacks alongside Torres as the climb continued to rise.

Thanks to the willingness of both riders, Soler spent a period of time in a strong breakaway alongside the likes of Nairo Quintana (Movistar) and Wout Poels (Unibet Rose Rockets). Their move, however, was caught at the foot of the final climb.

In Soler’s place, Morgado tracked the moves and found his way to a competitive finish in Estivella. The 21-year-old’s next assignment will be an attempt to defend his title in Saturday’s Gran Premio Castellón, where the same UAE Team Emirates-XRG squad will take to the start line.

Classica Camp de Morvedre 2026 results

1. Christian Scaroni (XDS Astana Team) 3:57:35

2. Diego Pescador (Movistar) s.t

3. Antonio Tiberi (Bahrain Victorious) s.t

8. António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +1:10