António Morgado Triumphs At Trofeo Calvià As UAE Team Emirates-XRG Cornerstone Victory

António Morgado delivered a decisive win at the Trofeo Calvià, opening the Challenge Mallorca series in harsh rain. The UAE Team Emirates-XRG rider overhauled the long-day leaders, then beat Héctor Álvarez in a two-up sprint in Palmanova after both riders escaped the rest of the field.

The race, held on Wednesday on Mallorca’s short and steep climbs, quickly turned into a test of endurance. While Morgado took the victory, UAE Team Emirates-XRG also saw Nils Politt finish eighth and Rune Herregodts ninth, giving the squad three riders in the top ten on their season debuts.

The key phase unfolded inside the final 40km, once it became clear the peloton was losing control. Morgado attacked with 33km remaining, launching a hard move despite still wearing a rain jacket. That surge immediately thinned the group and effectively ended the main bunch’s chances of fighting for the win.

Álvarez, riding for the Spanish national team, was the only rider able to respond. After a determined chase, Álvarez bridged to Morgado, and the pair began working together. Their aim was to reach the day’s early escapees, who still held a sizeable margin as the final climbs approached.

Earlier, Adrien Boichis, Ådne Holter and Georg Steinhauser built a lead of more than 90 seconds. They carried this advantage into the Coll de sa Gramola, a 3.1km ascent averaging 5.2 percent. At that stage, many observers expected the winner to emerge from this trio, given the difficulty of the conditions.

Morgado and Álvarez cut deeply into that gap on the Gramola climb, then on the descent. Within a few kilometres, the original three leaders and the charging duo merged, forming a front group of five. As the gradient eased, however, Morgado and Álvarez quickly showed stronger legs and clearer intent.

Trofeo Calvià Challenge Mallorca UAE Team Emirates-XRG final climb and sprint

The Coll de Soma, 2.6km at an average of 5 percent, became the launchpad for the last selection. Álvarez attacked first on this ascent, with Morgado reacting immediately. The two moved clear of Boichis, Holter and Steinhauser, who could not match the tempo on the damp, twisting road.

Once over the top of the Coll de Soma, Morgado and Álvarez cooperated to keep the chasers behind. Neither gained a clear advantage before the finish, so the race came down to a sprint in Palmanova. Morgado proved faster in the final metres, sealing victory and confirming a strong collective display by UAE Team Emirates-XRG.

With inputs from WAM