"My goal is the road race on Friday" - António Morgado isn't worried by disappointing U23 time trial in Zurich

António Morgado was the only Portuguese rider present in the Under-23 individual time trial at the World Championships in Zurich and in the end, he finished his individual effort in 39:07m, which gave him the 2nd best provisional time at the time, behind his trade teammate, Mexican Isaac del Toro.

It was clear from Morgado's time that his provisional second place would not last long, and so it was. When the Spaniard Iván Romeo crossed the finish line, the UAE Team Emirates youngster had to leave the seats reserved for the three best times and in an exchange of words with Eurosport, Morgado was calm: "It didn't go well for me today, the roads were wet".

In fact, the first riders to leave the ramp to do the 29.9 km of the course found the roads very wet and dangerous, so they had to be careful "I didn't take any risks today, my goal is next Friday. The road was very wet on the descent and I didn't risk anything. My legs weren't feeling well today, the sensations weren't good, but it's done."

Asked about the importance of today's time trial for him, Morgado didn't hold back: "If I have an opportunity to ride, I ride. It's for Portugal. But I didn't have the time trial as an objective. I've finished it and now let's think about next Friday's race," concluded the Portuguese rider from UAE Team Emirates.

World Championship under-23 men's time trial results