It almost seems strange to think that it’s just the first time, given the amazing things he has shown this spring. And instead for Antonio Morgadoborn in 2004 (it’s worth remembering every now and then), the eighty-seventh edition of Tour of Romagna, which returns to the calendar after the last time in 2011, will remain in the records as the first ever victory among professionals, which coincidentally arrives on the day in which the cover is for an illustrious teammate of his, another phenomenon of precocity.
It is almost obvious to say that, barring cataclysms, it will be the first of a long series, considering that the young Portuguese has already achieved a millimeter second place in Le Samyn and above all a fifth place in the Ronde van Vlaanderen in his very first steps among the greats with the shirt of UAE Emirates. For one-day races, especially for these repeated efforts on stretches of a few minutes, Morgado already has very little to envy of the best in the world, and today he imposed himself with the confidence of the winner sailed over four other non-winners, but decidedly not gifted of the same dazzling talent.
Giro della Romagna 2024, the chronicle of the race
After the departure from Lugo, the group faces over 130 flat or almost flat kilometers before entering the final circuit, in which the Bagnolo climb is repeated five times (3.8 km at 5.6%). A group of eight is formed at the command, with Filippo D’Aiuto (General Store-Essegibi-F.lli Curia), Philip Agostinacchio (Beltrami TSA-Tre Colli), Lukas Rüegg (Team Voralberg), Atsushi Oka (JCL Team Ukyo), Matthew Kingston (Mg.K Vis-Colors for Peace), José Antonio Prieto (Petrolike), Tommaso Cafueri And Giovanni Zordan (Zalf Euromobil Fior).
Already from the first lap the leading group begins to crumble, with D’Aiuto managing to get everyone out of the way, with only Agostinacchio holding the wheels until the second lap. However, the maneuvers also began from behind in the group of favourites, after the UAE had conducted operations all day, as the only leading team in the race. Moving for the Emirati team is Antonio Morgado, together with Mattia Bais (Polti-Kometa), Giovanni Carboni (JCL Team Ukyo), José Felix Parra (Equipo Kern Pharma) e Joan Bou (Euskaltel-Euskadi).
Thirty-five kilometers from the end it therefore unhooks the small group destined to go to the bottom. The five return to D’Aiuto within a handful of kilometres, but the twenty-two year old from General Store behaves admirably and remains hooked for a long time. Only on the last climb does he break away and is joined by Isaac Del Torowho came from behind emerging uphill from the group to try to get back in, giving the UAE a second option to exploit from a tactical point of view.
Morgado completes the work
The Mexican closes to within thirty seconds but is unable to catch up with the five in front, among whom there were no major differences on the climb. He therefore arrives at the sprint a Castrocaro Terme and Terra del Sole, in which Morgado starts the clear favourite, having also had the opportunity to stay behind for a few kilometers waiting for Del Toro’s possible return. Portuguese launches the sprint from in front at -250, after closing on Bais’ two advance attempts in the last kilometre. The only one who manages to keep in the wake is Bou, who however is unable to get out and stops in second place, while Morgado takes his first victory among professionals with authority, even if with too many risks.
In third place was Mattia Bais, the only one among the five in front for whom it would not have been the first victory in his career, ahead of Carboni and Parra. Del Toro finishes sixth at 43″ together with D’Aiuto, while Filippo Fiorelli (VF Group-Bardiani-CSF Faizanè) wins the group sprint at 58″, ahead of Davide De Cassan (Team Polti Kometa) e Thomas Pesenti (JCL Team Ukyo) who complete the top ten.
