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 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 •
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Tour de France 2021: Sonny Colbrelli refuses to take blame for Primož Roglič crash
"I wish it didn't happen, but I don't believe I'm to blame," says Italian champion
By Richard Windsor •
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Damiano Caruso: Seeing Egan Bernal suffering just like me was good for morale
The second-place rider in the Giro d'Italia matched a struggling Bernal and took back a few seconds on day 17
By Alex Ballinger •
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'The helmet saved my life' - Matej Mohorič after his dramatic crash at the Giro d'Italia 2021
The Slovenian all-rounder was lucky to escape serious injury
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
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Matej Mohorič abandons Giro d’Italia 2021 after huge crash on a descent
The Bahrain Victorious rider took a huge hit after losing control on a fast downhill
By Alex Ballinger •
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Five talking points from stage six of the Giro d’Italia 2021
Bahrain Victorious strike back, Egan Bernal on the attack again, as some favourites lose time - the biggest moments from a thrilling stage
By Alex Ballinger •
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Attila Valter takes pink jersey as Gino Mader solos to Giro d'Italia stage six win
Race leader Alessandro De Marchi was dropped mid-way through the stage on a tough climbing day at the Giro d'Italia
By Tim Bonville-Ginn •
