Pro-cycle team riding high

The recent visit of the newly-formed Team Bahrain Merida pro-cycling team to Bahrain held them in good stead as they opened their new adventure in Australia at the Tour Down Under.

The kingdom’s latest sporting initiative nearly got off to the perfect start in Adelaide as the team were involved in abunch sprint at the end of the first stage and propelled Italian Nicolo Bonifazio into fifth place, despite temperatures reaching 45 degrees celcius.

This superb result also meant that he claimed the white jersey for ranking third in the young rider classification and provides genuine hope for better results as the season progresses.

Two days later Bonifazio was at it again, this time cycling his way on to the podium, claiming third place at the end of stage three in front of an excited crowd at Victor Harbour.

Sports director, Phillipe Mauduit, was understandably delighted, highlighting the ‘perfect teamwork’ and ‘high teamspirits’ that were required to launch a single rider into that elevated position.

While the fourth stage appeared at first glance to be another excellent opportunity for the Italian to progress up the overall rankings he had difficulty finding a good position in the peleton. Yet Bahrain Merida were still making headlines thanks to 26-year old Czech, OndrejCink, who was involved in a break away for nearly 100km alongside Quick-StepFloors Jack Bauer and Australian Cameron Meyer, finally coming unstuck in the last 10km as the course twisted and turned down hill.

Founded by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad AlKhalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee president and supported by a number of local businesses including VIVA Bahrain, the Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team, cycles in Bahrain’s national colours.

It aims to elevate the country into the global consciousness again. The team, consisting of 27 pro-cyclists from a plethora of countries and continents, will participate in a variety of Union Cycliste International (UCI) events.

Indeed, just as one selected team finished in Australia, another, featuring the team leader, Vincenzo Nibali, started in Argentina, competing for one of the classics on the South American calendar, the Vuelta a San Juan.

While the team consists of a combination of carefully selected young riders to balance the more experienced professionals, the rider that many will have heard of is Vincenzo Nibali.

The ‘Shark of the Strait’ as he became known due to his desire to attack from distance, is one of only six riders in history to have completed the Grand Slam of the Grand Tours, claiming the Vuelta a Espana in 2010, adding the Tour de France in 2014 to his two home Girod” Italia wins in 2013 and 2016.

The race in Argentina is important, not only to test the team’s time trial skills, but also for the mountains that elevate riders above 2,500m while also exposing them to head winds and heat.

Of course, the success of the team will be dependent not only on the men on two wheels but also the support crew that work tirelessly behind the scenes.

General manager Brent Copeland, drawing on a wealth of experience that comprises not only cycling but also time working within MotoGP, is aiming to ensure that the team is well-organised and generating a good image from the start. However, he recognises that it is only winning that will keep the team going and the results in Australia bode well.

On the back of the two Top 20 finishes in Australia, Copeland is already planning for the future, announcing a co-operation agreement with Team Colpack, the most successful development team in Italy. It is hoped that their long-standing experience will help Bahrain Merida develop their own young talent, including Nibali’s younger brother, Antonio.

While the Bahrain team has been formed from scratch thanks to an initial training ride involving Shaikh Nasser and Nibali and was the first ME team to be registered for the season, there is another outfit carrying the name of a GCC neighbour. 

The team formerly known as Lampre-Merida was due to be sponsored by Chinese sports wear firm TJ Sport and had even been registered in China. However, when they pulled out of the deal it looked as though the team would cease to exist before an Emirati stepped in, moving its base to Abu Dhabi and changing the team name to reflect this.

Shaikh Nasser’s vision will undoubtedly create a phenomenal level of Bahrain-based interest in the UCI calendar, particularly the main Tours of Italy, France and Spain. 

It is understood that one of his aims is to encourage children to participate in sport, not only for the obvious health benefits, but also to prepare them for life’s many challenges.

Enthusiasts living in the kingdom hope that, much as F1 uses its global fan-base to promote road safety campaigns, Team Merida can act as a catalyst in Bahrain tofacilitate safer cycling at all levels.