Defending António Morgado (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) outsprinted Alex Aranburu (Cofidis) to take a repeat win of the Figueira Champions Classic in Figueira da Foz.
Aranburu opened up his sprint first, with 200 metres to go, but Morgado was able to come alongside and powered to the line to take his second victory of the season after clinching the Trofeo Calvià two weeks ago.
The pair was part of a seven-rider group that pulled away the final time up the Rua Parque Florestal climb inside of 20 kilometres to go. Powered by Morgado’s teammate Brandon McNulty, the break was able to hold off the reduced peloton even though six teams put a rider in the rotation to try and bring the move back.
Morgado countered an attack by Aranburu with seven kilometres to go, on the slopes of the Enforca Cães and the duo would continue on to battle for victory, with Aranburu mostly sitting on up until the flat final kilometre.
Crossing the line nine seconds later, Pau Marti (NSN) took third ahead of Jarno Widar (Lotto-Intermarché) who was fourth.
Originally scheduled to cover 192.7km, as strong winds lashed Portugal’s central coast the route was shortened by roughly 15km in the initial section leading to the four finishing circuits. However, the race was always to be decided on the classic finishing circuit, where the climbs of Rua Parque Florestal and Enforca Cães played their usual key role in deciding the outcome.
