Is Morgado the next big star for UAE Team Emirates? "The trust we have in him is endless"

Experts had already marked António Morgado as a major cycling talent. But for less devoted followers of the sport, the 20-year-old Portuguese rider’s sudden emergence in the spotlight might have come as a surprise. In his first year in the WorldTour, he frequently competed with the best and already secured three victories. Yet, the UAE Team Emirates rider remains highly self-critical.

Morgado’s most notable achievement so far was his fifth-place finish in the Tour of Flanders. Surprisingly, in the spring, he admitted he wasn’t a fan of cobbled races. "I’ve grown to like the Belgian classics a bit more," he now tells Sporza. "Last year, I discovered that I actually have a preference for big, long races like Gent-Wevelgem and the Tour of Flanders." Alongside his performance in the Tour of Flanders, Morgado also debuted in Paris-Roubaix. "That race suits me too, but this year in the Hell of the North. I had some bike issues, which explains my 86th place."

The cobblestones suit him well, but Morgado is also versatile across different types of races. He has ambitions to shine in grand tours, although he acknowledges this might not be his specialty. "Given my physique, I know I’m not built to win a grand tour. But throughout my career, I’ll always strive to become a better climber. If I keep improving and have strong legs, maybe one day it could happen."

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Morgado immediately won the Giro della Romagna in his first year

Matxin: "One of the most important riders on our team"

Matxin Fernández, the team manager of UAE Team Emirates, sees Morgado as an incredible talent with immense potential for the coming years. "Morgado is impressively versatile. He can win time trials, manage sprints, and compete with the best on steep climbs, as he showed in the Tour of the Algarve." Morgado’s progress has earned him a spot in a grand tour. "In 2025, Morgado just needs to perform more consistently and take the next step in his development. He’ll have the opportunity to do so by riding his first grand tour (the Vuelta, ed.)."

Physically, the young rider is incredibly strong, but there’s still room for significant progress mentally. "Morgado needs to believe in himself even more," says his Spanish team manager. "The trust we have in him is endless. We see him as one of the most important riders in our team for the future." In short, nothing but high praise for the budding superstar.

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