More details revealed as new Bahrain Cycling Team officially announced
The signing of Vincenzo Nibali will have to wait until August 3, but the team is now officially going ahead


Bahrain will sponsor a new cycling team, expected to be in the WorldTour, in 2017 with Vincenzo Nibali as its star rider.
The small Middle East island today said that it would support the team through a group of businesses and partners. Cycling Weekly learned from inside sources in May that Giro d'Italia winner Vincenzo Nibali will lead the team.
>>> Vincenzo Nibali slams critics of his Tour de France performance
“We are thrilled to be able to announce the Bahrain Cycling Team today, as Bahrain holds a great love for this growing sport,” read a press release. “As a country we already compete internationally in a range of sports, and we want to continue this though our commitment to international cycling."
Starting August 1, the team and Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa should begin to announce its riders. It is due to announce Nibali's signature on August 3.
Sources say that Slovenian Gorazd Stangelj, currently with team Astana, and Croatian Vladimir Miholjevic, who manages the Tour of Croatia, will direct the team. South African Brent Copeland, currently manager of Lampre-Merida, will take the general manager role.
The team is due to ride on Merida bikes and take over Lampre-Merida's WorldTour licence. Lampre's general manager Giuseppe Saronni should apply for a second division licence to continue his team in 2017.
Along with Nibali, long-time coach Paolo Slongo will make the jump. Cyclists Manuele Boaro (Tinkoff), Valerio Agnoli (Astana), Sonny Colbrelli (Bardiani-CSF), Giovanni Visconti (Movistar) and Salvatore Puccio (Sky) are linked, as well.
>>> Transfer rumours: Who’s in and who’s out for Team Sky in 2017?
Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the sponsors are worried about the team being too Italian. They are reportedly pushing Copeland to make sure there are more international names to draw attention.
South African Louis Meintjes could help. The 24-year-old finished eighth overall in the Tour de France and second behind Adam Yates in the young rider competition. He should join along with some other current Lampre cyclists
Bahrain's bid for a cycling team with the country's past political problems, including the 2011 anti-government protests, has raised concern. However, the UCI licence commission would only consider the concerns if the ethical issues linked to a cycling licence are strong enough.
Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
-
Five talking points from stage 15 of the Giro d'Italia
Our highlights from a stage where the GC contenders rolled in eight minutes behind the day's winner
By Stephen Puddicombe • Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2022 standings: Results from the 105th edition after stage 15
The latest standings from the 105th edition of the Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali compared to Zlatan Ibrahimović by impressed Astana-Qazaqstan DS: 'He has some surprises in store'
The Italian last won a race in October, his first in more than two years
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'My final year? I haven't made a decision yet'
The Italian returns to Astana for 2022, but hasn't yet figured out whether it will be his swansong
By Jonny Long • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali abandons Tour de France 2021
The Italian star is the latest to leave the race ahead of the Olympics
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali: 'My Giro started uphill and isn't getting much better'
Italian throws support behind team-mate Giulio Ciccone after crash on stage eight
By Richard Windsor • Published
-
Astana-Premier Tech sports director wants Vincenzo Nibali to finish his career with the team
The general manager of Astana-Premier Tech has said that he wants Vincenzo Nibali to return to his team for the last season of his career.
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali says riders should switch off bike computers following Mathieu van der Poel’s Strade Bianche win
Vincenzo Nibali has said riders should avoid looking at their power meters in races, after Mathieu van der Poel’s phenomenal victory in Strade Bianche.
By Alex Ballinger • Published
-
Tirreno-Adriatico 2021 start list: Simon Yates, Tadej Pogačar and Geraint Thomas to battle for the title
The start list is coming together nicely for the race of the two seas with some of the sports biggest names down to race (March 10-16)
By Tim Bonville-Ginn • Published
-
Vincenzo Nibali says today is the Giro d’Italia queen stage after changes to final mountain day
Vincenzo Nibali said today’s stage 18 of the Giro d’Italia is now the Queen Stage of the race, after the changes to the route on the final mountain day.
By Alex Ballinger • Published