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Follow us on GoogleAntónio Morgado has won the Figueira Champions Classic for the second year in a row. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider defended his title in front of his home fans in Portugal by beating Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) in a two-up sprint, after a nervy finale in which the Spaniard tried everything to tilt the odds his way. Morgado looked close to boiling over, but kept his head just cool enough to finish it off.
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It was a stormy day on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. With waves crashing high along the shoreline, race organisers intervened on safety grounds: the course was shortened by 15 kilometres, with part of the opening phase removed. The finale remained largely unchanged, leaving a punchy, rolling run-in to decide the winner.
The early break was made up of five Portuguese riders from continental teams. The best-known name was Rafael Reis, a former pro with Caja Rural–Seguros RGA and a former Portuguese time trial champion. The quintet built a lead of more than six minutes, while Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe controlled in the bunch.
With 70 kilometres to go and the classified climbs approaching, the advantage had dropped to four minutes. The leaders were also joined by three chasers — plus one Portuguese rider who had been distanced from the original move — as the peloton crossed the finish line for the first time with 57 kilometres remaining.
From there, the race went into two local circuits built around the climbs of Rua Parque Florestal (2.3km at 7.8%) and Enforca Cães (800m at 7.3%). Attacks were inevitable, and it was Red Bull–BORA–hansgrohe who lit the fuse through Daniel Felipe Martínez.
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UAE present in every elite move
Brandon McNulty of UAE Team Emirates-XRG joined Martínez. When the American lifted the pace again, an elite chase group formed about a minute behind a front group of four, with Martínez and McNulty accompanied by Riley Sheehan (NSN) and Max Poole (Picnic PostNL).
With 34 kilometres to go, the two groups of four merged, holding a slender lead of around a minute over a reduced peloton. The original escapees were running on fumes by then, so the real threat came from behind. EF Education–EasyPost and Cofidis had missed the move and drove hard in the bunch, triggering a regrouping with 22 kilometres left.
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Aranburu answers Morgado in the finale
UAE had to reshuffle, but they still had the perfect card: Morgado, a fast finisher for a tough, selective race like this. McNulty then went all-in for the Portuguese rider, stretching the peloton until splits opened and a group of seven slipped clear. UAE were represented by Morgado and McNulty, with Martínez once again there as well. Pau Martí (NSN), Thomas Gloag (Pinarello–Q36.5), Aranburu (Cofidis) and Jarno Widar (Lotto–Intermarché) also found themselves in a position to dream.
With McNulty drilling it, the front group carried 12 seconds into the final 10 kilometres, but EF and Movistar continued the chase and it became a knife-edge situation. Up front, everyone knew something had to happen. Aranburu launched a sharp acceleration and eventually only Morgado could go with him. Two riders, both with a serious kick, committed to working together toward the line.
Their gap back to the first chasers was still respectable, and that was enough for Aranburu to start playing poker. Morgado visibly grew frustrated — a moment that was even picked up on social media — but the Spaniard refused to take a full turn and instead backed himself to start the sprint from Morgado’s wheel. The UAE rider, however, didn’t panic and timed it right to win again in Figueira for the second consecutive season.
Results Figueira Champions Classic 2026
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Bram van der PloegEditor-in-chief
Bram van der Ploeg (35) is the proud founder of In de Leiderstrui, IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, launched in 2018. Finally, he could create stories about the sport he had followed since childhood. He is the editor-in-chief on paper, but prefers to be with his recorder next to a rider, a team bus, or in the mud at a cyclocross race. Every year, from February to the end of May, Bram follows the entire Italian cycling season, from the Trofeo Laigueglia to the Giro d'Italia, with the grand finale in October in Lombardy. During that time, he lives in Tuscany, where he has since come to call Italy his 'home'.
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Latest Comments
- - Pidcock throwing shade about del Toro in Montréal felt a tad salty. Teams always ride tactics; it’s worlds, not a club race. If Tom wants revenge at Lombardia, he’ll need to mark Ayuso and Remco too, not just McNulty. Vamos Brandon, forza UAE!velodromevirtuoso101-10-2026
- - Wait, so Pogačar is “finished for 2026” but also only back at Tour Down Under 2027? Bit confusing—does that mean he’s out for the whole of 2026 season, or is it just no racing until Jan 2027? Can someone clarify the timeline?lindae01-10-2026
- - Brilliant piece. McNulty in the maglia iridata at San Luca is going to be class. If he measures the final laps and doesn’t overcook it early, he can outsprint most on that ramp.raceready701-10-2026
- - Is October 3 correct for Giro dell’Emilia this year? Thought it usually lands the first weekend but the date here looks off by a day. Either way, stacked UAE roster—curious how they juggle Yates/Wellens/Narváez with the new rainbow stripes.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Wild to think Pogačar wanted to race already when Mir said the collarbone was fine, but Gianetti’s playing the long game. If McNulty carries that Montréal snap into Emilia and Lombardia, watch out. His TT engine plus those short climbs = trouble for Remco and Pidcock.davidm01-10-2026
- - McNulty solo win gets one line? Come on, give Brandon some kudos—his timing on Camillien-Houde was spot on, and MvDP covered a lot to set that finale up. Grande artículo, pero faltan detalles de la táctica en Montréal.patriciaw01-10-2026
- - Not sure why the piece keeps circling back to “we’ll see” without new info. Feels a bit padded. Either he races CX or he doesn’t—tell us when he’ll decide.raceready701-10-2026
- - I’d miss the cross battles if he sits out. The last winter run from Namur onwards—13 straight wins and Hulst rainbow—was insane. But resting might be the only way to consistently match Pog next April.jeremya01-10-2026
- - Quick question: the article says the baby is due around the time of the 2027 CX Worlds in Ostend, but earlier it says January with the 2026/this winter schedule. Is that a typo on the year?julien01-10-2026
- - Brilliant season wrap from MvDP. Eight wins, two TDF stages, E3 + Omloop, and bronze in Montréal. If he skips cross, that could sharpen the spring peak for Sanremo/Ronde/Roubaix. Family comes first though—proficiat to him and Roxanne.breakawaybikerd01-10-2026
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