With an enthusiastic home crowd, Morgado finds it easy to make comparisons: "I’m no different"

The field of participants was very strong, and the final was fierce, but hometown hero António Morgado still managed to win the Figueira Champions Classic—and he won in style. The young Portuguese cyclist from UAE Team Emirates—XRG attacked with 21 kilometers to go, and his competitors could never catch him. In front of an ecstatic home crowd, he did something that one would normally expect from his legendary teammate.

With an impressive solo, Morgado was successful for the second time this season, following his victory in the GP Castellón earlier this year. "This win feels special for me," the overjoyed Portuguese said on his team's website. "I've been training well, and my sensations are very good on the bike, so I knew if all went well, I would have a chance today."

We first saw the super talent at the front with fifty kilometers to go when Julian Alaphilippe launched his first attack on the tough Rua Parque Forestal. "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 took it." Filippo Ganna (INEOS Grenadiers) was alone in the lead on the killer climb's final passage. However, the peloton closed on him on the most challenging stretches before Morgado launched his attack.

Read more below the video!

"Belgians want to win in Belgium, French in France ... I'm no different"

His attack was so explosive that only his compatriot Ruben Guerreiro (Movistar) could follow. If only for 100 meters. After a brief chase, his last opponent also left his wheel. The 21-year-old all-rounder increased his lead in the following kilometers and could hold off the approaching peloton in the final kilometers. The comparisons with Pogacar are easy to make, but to be able to make the difference at such an age with such superiority really gets people talking.

The victory was extra special because the finish of the Figueira Champions Classic is about fifty kilometers from Morgado's birthplace. "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."

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