Cycling news - McLaren enter cycling with Bahrain-Merida in bid to beat Team Sky

The announcement came on Wednesday morning with a statement saying "McLaren Group has announced today that it is to become a 50 per cent joint venture partner in Team Bahrain-Merida, the UCI WorldTour team with a long-term vision to participate at the top level of the sport."

Both groups are owned in Bahrain, with the cycling team owned by Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a member of the nation’s royal family and McLaren by Mumtalakat, a sovereign wealth fund.

Brent Copeland, General Manager of Bahrain-Merida said in a statement “McLaren has been raising the bar for technological innovation and sport performance for decades.

It is unclear how much money McLaren will be putting in to Bahrain-Merida but the team are now expected to be able to compete with Team Sky, who earlier on Wednesday confirmed that this would be the last season where they are backed by the broadcaster.

Bahrain-Merida are led by 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali and can also boast the Izagirre brothers, Gorka and Ion, on their roster as well as Domenico Pozzovivo and Matej Mohoric.

Last season the team tasted victory at Milan-San Remo through Nibali, the BinckBank Tour through Mohoric, who also won a stage at the Giro d'Italia, and the Tour of Croatia thanks to Kanstantsin Sivtsov.

John Allert, Chief Marketing Officer of McLaren, said: “Racing, technology and human performance are at the heart of everything we do at McLaren. Cycling is something we have been involved with in the past and have been looking at entering for some time.

"It is a completely natural fit for our skills and our ambitions and a perfect partnership with Team Bahrain Merida who have the right vision and approach for the future. We will be working tirelessly in the months ahead as we know the world of professional cycling is home to some of the best athletes and competitive teams in the world of sport.

“What Team Bahrain Merida has achieved in less than two years, off a standing start, is hugely impressive. Working together with a team this driven is a very exciting prospect indeed.”

HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, added: "Our partnership with McLaren is one that gives me great national pride and excitement for the future of Bahrain cycling. We want to be the best in the world and an example to others of how to compete in this most challenging of elite sports.

"The partnership with McLaren will provide invaluable expertise and experience of getting the best out of machines and athletes and will help to accelerate our team’s journey to the pinnacle of professional cycling."