Bahrain | Website
The Bahrain Victorious team started life as Bahrain-Merida and joined the
Union Cycliste Internationale's top-flight WorldTour in 2017.
The squad is backed by a group of Bahrain businesses and British motor racing team McLaren. Bahrain's Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa has been a driving force behind the creation of the team.
Vincenzo Nibali was arguably the squad's biggest signing on its inception, and led the Middle East squad into the Grand Tours. Italian Nibali has since signed for Trek-Segafredo.
Nibali duly delivered the team's biggest wins in its debut year, winning a stage of the Giro d'Italia, a stage of the Vuelta a España and Il Lombardia. He followed this up with a memorable victory in the 2018 Milan-San Remo after a late attack.
2019 also saw a smattering of results, with two Tour de France stage wins from Dylan Teuns and Vincenzo Nibali, with the latter also finishing second in the Giro as well as taking the penultimate stage of the Tour.
The team parted ways with current time trial world champion Rohan Dennis for prematurely qutting the Tour de France, with the Australian signing for Team Ineos for 2020 with Nibali also leaving to join Trek-Segafredo.
The 2020 season's signings of Mark Cavendish and Mikel Landa looked to lead the team in the sprints and GC. Another notable signing for the year was Wout Poels.
McLaren stepped up as title sponsor for 2020, Rod Ellingworth was also selected as team manager, with the former British Cycling coach joining after a long stint with Team Sky.
Cavendish failed to regain his form in another difficult year and rejoins Deceuninck - Quick-Step in 2021 whereas Landa didn't manage to pull off a top result.
In 2021 the team sees yet another change as British look disappears with McLaren, Rod Ellingworth, Le Col and Cavendish all leaving the team.
The team changed their name to Bahrain Victorious with and got rid of the McLaren orange and replaced with a cherry red instead.
Official website: teambahrainmerida.com
Twitter feed: @bahrain_merida
Facebook page: Facebook.com/Bahrain-Merida-Pro-Cycling-Team-592217904262112
Latest
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Matej Mohorič rides to brilliant stage seven victory as Sonny Colbrelli wins Benelux Tour
A final stage and general classification one-two for Bahrain Victorious
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
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Mikel Landa explains why he abandoned Vuelta a España 2021
The Spaniard has struggled for form since his Giro d'Italia crash despite Burgos win
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Jack Haig wins Strava's new 'King of the Day' award after stage 10 of Vuelta a España 2021
The new feature is only available for pro riders at the moment but will become available for all soon
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Mikel Landa admits he was lacking confidence heading into first mountain finish at Vuelta a España
It was the Spanish climber's team that controlled much of the final climb
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Vuelta a España rider vows to donate money to charity for every rider he beats in 2021 edition
Swiss climber Gino Mäder has already had a successful season with Bahrain Victorious
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Matej Mohorič powers clear of breakaway to take Tour de France stage 19 win
The Slovenian champion took his second stage win of the race from the breakaway
By Richard Windsor •
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Matej Mohorič says police raid on Bahrain Victorious hotel made him feel like a 'drug dealer'
The team have denied any wrongdoing after French police raided their hotel on Wednesday night
By Chris Marshall-Bell •
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Bahrain Victorious raided by police at Tour de France 2021
The team said officers searched riders’ rooms and asked for training files
By Alex Ballinger •
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Matej Mohorič solos to epic victory on Tour de France 2021 stage seven as Van der Poel holds onto yellow
The GC riders came out to play in the peloton and the breakaway on the longest Tour stage in 21 years
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
