Bahrain Victorious

Bahrain Victorious is a UCI WorldTeam financed by the government of Bahrain, and registered in Bahrain. The Bahrain government hopes that the team will help to promote the country to a global audience. It has previously been called Bahrain-Merida (2017-19) and Bahrain-McLaren (2020). 

In 2026, the team had the least successful season since 2020, only gaining 9 victories on the road. However, they won a stage in both the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España. In the Giro and Tour de France, they had a rider in the top 10 finishers: Afonso Eulálio came sixth in the Giro, and Lenny Martinez came fifth in the Tour. 

IDL Pro Cycling keeps a close eye on all news related to Bahrain Victorious, including rider signings, race results, team management, equipment, race programmes and major announcements.

Bahrain Victorious is a UCI WorldTeam financed by the Bahraini government, as a way of promoting the country on a global stage. The idea was first started by Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa- a member of the Bahraini royal family. Bahrain is an island kingdom between Qatar and Saudi Arabia, off the western shore of the Persian gulf. 

The team has existed since 2017, and has been co-sponsored at certain times by Merida, and McLaren. In their time, the team has won 4 monuments. Two came from Vincenzo Nibali, who won Lombardy in 2017 and Milan-San Remo in 2018. The other two came from Paris-Roubiax in 2021, when Sonny Colbrelli won, and 2022, when Matej Mohorič won Milan-San Remo. 

In 2026, the team saw Pello Bilbao, one of the most prolific riders at the team, retire, having joined the team in 2020. The Spanish rider, who has been pro since 2011 raced his final race at the Tour of Lombardy, and was given a farewell by the whole peloton. 

Bahrain Victorious suffered an enormous tragedy in 2023, at the Tour de Suisse. On 15 June, Swiss rider Gino Mäder fell while deciding from the Albula Pass. The young rider was found unconscious and submerged in water. Despite being resuscitated and airlifted to hospital, at the age of just 26, Mäder died from his injuries just a day later. The stage the following day was cancelled, and following a short tribute ride, Bahrain Victorious, along with Intermarché-Circus-Wanty and Tudor Pro Cycling and around 30 individual riders, withdrew from the race. In 2025, a memorial to Mäder on the Albula Pass was unveiled by Tour de Suisse organisers, in a ceremony attended by teams and riders. 

The complete 2027 roster has not yet been confirmed. The current Bahrain Victorious roster include... 

Bahrain Victorious 2026 results:

9 total:  - GC wins, 5 Classic wins, 4 stage wins 

Bahrain Victorious 2027 Calendar

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Author: David Bavin-Hobbs | [email protected]