After almost a decade of developing some of the best cycling talent from Portugal in the under 23 ranks, the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team will add 2022 double junior national champion Antonio Morgado to its 2023 lineup. Antonio joins Axeon from the Bairrada Cycling Team.
“Representing the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling team will be a great honor as well as a huge responsibility, said Antonio. “Despite this, I am excited and motivated to start this new phase of my career.”
After second place finishes at Course de la Paix Juniors and Trophée Centre Morbihan, Antonio won both the individual time trial and road race at the 2022 Portuguese Junior National Championships. The 18-year-old from Caldas da Rainha also won the Vuelta Junior a la Ribera del Duero in Aranda de Duero, Spain. Most recently he added a standout performance at the Volta a Portugal winning the overall general classification, the mountains classification, and two stage wins along the way.
But the race that stands out to Antonio the most was the Vuelta al Besaya in 2020, “because that was when I felt it was possible to be a professional cyclist.”
“Antonio chased some big national and international results,” said sport director Koos Moerenhout.“He has a strong style of riding and his results show it. We look forward to helping him make the next step on the international calendar.”
Antonio is the third rider announced to the Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team’s 2023 roster.
