Morgado defends title at Figueira Champions Classic with emphatic sprint win

António Morgado delivered a brave and decisive sprint victory today to win the 2026 Figueira Champions Classic -marking a superb result for UAE Team Emirates-XRG on his home soil and adding another triumph to the team’s early season success. Morgado once again proved unstoppable in Figueira da Foz, holding off a strong challenge from Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) in the final metres to become the first rider to defend the title in the race’s four-edition history.

The 177.8 km single-day race, part of the UCI ProSeries, unfolded under challenging coastal winds that split the race and animated the finale. A breakaway moved clear early, and with around 6 km to go, a select group including Morgado, Aranburu, and Brandon McNulty had formed after strong attacks on the rolling circuits. In the closing kilometres, Morgado responded tactfully, staying close to Aranburu’s initial sprint before unleashing his own powerful kick to take the win – his second consecutive victory at this event and the second of the 2026 season following his earlier success at the Trofeo Calvià.

Morgado : “ I’m thrilled to take the win here in Portugal. The team was phenomenal – the strength and way they worked was impressive, we are lucky to have a group this strong and motivated.

I knew Aranburu had a good finish but that in a long sprint I can hold my power quite well and in the end it counted. This is a special race for me especially since I won 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 Algarve.”

The win marks the second victory of the day for the Emirati squad as Marc Soler took the overall victory at the Vuelta Murcia. The race was neutralised during stage 2 due to heavy winds which was deemed unsafe and halted proceedings.

Julius Johansen also stepped on the final podium after his heroic efforts yesterday to take 2nd place on GC.

Results

1.Antonio Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) 4:19:13

2.Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) s.t

3.Pau Martí (NSN Cycling) +9”

5.Brandon McNulty (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) s.t

8.Felix Grossschartner (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +21”