UCI WorldTeam

Bahrain Victorious

After adding the word ‘Victorious’ to their moniker three years ago, few expected this Bahraini WorldTour outfit to live up to their new name and be mightily successful at cycling’s top level.

While they haven’t established themselves as the best team in the men’s WorldTour, they have certainly not disappointed. 2022 saw them win big at Milan-San Remo thanks to a dropper post and nerves of steel from Matej Mohorič, while Dylan Teuns delivered a victory at La Flèche Wallonne for the first time in their history. Sadly, the team also witnessed the retirement of Sonny Colbrelli after the sprinter suffered from to a heart condition, but he will be back as a sports director in 2024.

After a breakthrough season in 2022 and dependable placings through 2023, British all-rounder and national champion Fred Wright could step into Colbrelli’s shoes when it comes to picking up wins in both the Classics and Grand Tours.

The team have a plethora of other race-winning options, not least in the shape of Dutch veteran Wout Poels, who won stages at both the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España last season. The 36-year-old will be looking to join the treble club with a win at the Giro d'Italia this season, as will fellow Tour de France stage winner Pello Bilbao, who is only missing a victory at the Vuelta a España.

Poels and Bilbao both tasted victory at the Tour in the wake of Gino Mäder's untimely death. The 26-year-old sadly lost his life in a crash at the Tour de Suisse, which rocked the peloton and cycling community. Riding in his honour, Mohorič also stood triumphant at the Tour de France as Bahrain Victorious claimed three stage wins in the race that Mäder had been targeting. After his win, Mohorič gave an incredibly emotional, honest and poignant interview that was one of the most memorable moments of the season.

The Slovenian only continued to impress through the second half of 2023, winning a stage and the overall at the Tour de Pologne, before claiming stage wins in both the Renewi Tour and CRO Race.

Elsewhere, Santiago Buitrago fulfilled his great promise in winning a stage of the Giro d'Italia and the Colombian will be a man to watch in Bahrain Victorious colours in 2024. Despite being part-owned by an oil-rich country, the team does not have a budget comparable to the likes of UAE Team Emirates and Ineos Grenadiers, which means the development of young riders will continue to be important.

This is especially the case with the departures of team leaders Mikel Landa and Jonathan Milan for pastures new. The incoming young talent of Torstein Træen, Alberto Bruttomesso and Finlay Pickering will be under no burden to match the success of the outgoing pair, but carry some of the team's hopes for the future.

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