Former Lampre-Merida team granted WorldTour licence after securing Abu Dhabi backing

Team will be called UAE Abu Dhabi from 2017

Photo: Yuzuru Sunada

(Image credit: Yuzuru SUNADA)

The former Lampre-Merida team has been granted a WorldTour licence by the UCI, and will be called UAE Abu Dhabi for the 2017 season.

Former Team Sky rider Ben Swift's new team had faced an uncertain future after Chinese company TJ Sport pulled out of a sponsorship deal, meaning that the team's WorldTour licence was listed as "under review" when the UCI issued licences to other teams in November.

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.