Morgado wins Trofeo Calvià for UAE Team Emirates-XRG

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Morgado wins Trofeo Calvià for UAE Team Emirates-XRG

January 29, 2026

Morgado wins Trofeo Calvia for UAE Team Emirates-XRG — UAE Team Emirates-XRG’s António Morgado wins in Trofeo Calvià, Spain. Photo: WAM

PALMANOVA, Spain,— António Morgado powered to a decisive victory in the opening road cycling race of the Challenge Mallorca on Wednesday, capturing the Trofeo Calvià in wet and challenging conditions.

Morgado, riding for UAE Team Emirates-XRG, a professional road cycling team, bridged to the early breakaway before dropping his companions and out-sprinting Héctor Álvarez of Spain at the finish in Palmanova, Emirate News Gency reported.

Heavy rain set the tone for a demanding race that tested riders with short, steep climbs throughout the course. Early in the race, Adrien Boichis of Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe, Ådne Holter of Uno-X Mobility, and Georg Steinhauser of EF Education-EasyPost established a lead of more than 90 seconds heading into the penultimate categorized climb.

With less than 40 kilometers remaining, their advantage suggested the victory might come from the trio.

Morgado, sensing an opportunity, launched a powerful attack from the peloton with 33 kilometers to go. Despite the rain, he quickly pulled away, forcing the chasing group to respond.

Only Álvarez, riding for the Spanish national team, was able to match the acceleration and joined Morgado in pursuit of the breakaway leaders.

The pair steadily reduced the gap on Boichis, Holter, and Steinhauser as they climbed the Coll de sa Gramola, a 3.1-kilometer ascent averaging 5.2 percent. By the time the riders reached the descent, Morgado and Álvarez had caught the leading trio, creating a front group of five.

As the race approached the final climb of the day, the Coll de Soma, Morgado and Álvarez seized the moment. The climb, 2.6 kilometers at an average gradient of 5 percent, proved ideal for their decisive move.

The pair quickly broke free, leaving the other three riders behind. With no further attacks from the chasing group, Morgado and Álvarez prepared for the sprint finish.

In the end, Morgado powered past Álvarez in Palmanova to secure the win.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG also had a strong showing elsewhere in the top 10, with Nils Politt finishing eighth and Rune Herregodts ninth, marking a solid start to the season for the professional cycling team.

The Trofeo Calvià highlighted Morgado’s ability to combine strength and timing under difficult weather conditions, setting the stage for a competitive Challenge Mallorca series.

(With files from WAM)