"I feel stronger mentally; last year was different. It was my first year in this world, and you never know what could happen. You always think the others are stronger or too strong, but then you realize that’s not the case. Racing alongside great champions and professionals is really nice because I get to see how they live, eat, and recover. So, I feel privileged to be part of this team," Morgado continues. "I really like this team. But I think we all need to respect each other. When you have the best athlete in the world, you work for him. I’ve never had the desire to surpass him (Pogacar ed.) in the hierarchy. Having Tadej on the team pushes all of us to do our best. It’s a pleasure to race with athletes like him."
With Morgado having especially impressed in the one-day race and Spring Classics season now up and running for 2025, it could be a big few weeks and months in the career of the Portuguese. "You can only improve your own strength, become more and more competitive," he says when asked about his areas still needing improvement. "That’s the only thing you can do if you have great numbers."
And as for competing for wins at a Grand Tour, Morgado is again happy to be patient, despite expectations of a
Vuelta a Espana debut later this year. "No, I won’t be doing that yet. Before knowing if I can become that type of rider, I first need to participate," he concludes. "At the moment, I don’t really know what type of athlete I am. When I have good legs, I think I can do a bit of everything. But when I’m not in good shape, I can’t do anything. I like to feel good; it’s a feeling that gives me confidence, and I know that’s when I can do my best."