Breaking news

Formula 1

McLaren enters professional cycling

McLaren is to take its Formula 1 know-how in to the professional cycling, after announcing a joint venture with the UCI World Tour team Bahrain Merida on Wednesday.

Jonathan Noble

Jonathan Noble

Edited: Dec 12, 2018, 9:41 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Team Bahrain Merida cycle

Through its McLaren Applied Technologies (MAT) company, the McLaren Group will become a 50 percent partner in the outfit and wants to turn it into a winner on the world stage.

MAT has previously collaborated with Californian bicycle manufacturer Specialized, as well helping Team GB ahead of the 2012 London Olympics. But the Bahrain Merida tie-up is a much more longer term involvement that will utilise much of the knowledge McLaren has gained from F1.

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.”

HH Shaikh Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who owns the Bahrain team, 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.”  

The McLaren announcement comes just hours after Team Sky, the most successful World Tour team in recent years, announced that 2019 will be its final year competing.

Team Bahrain Merida cycle in the McLaren windtunnel

Team Bahrain Merida cycle in the McLaren windtunnel

Photo by: McLaren

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Ricciardo: '18 dramas cost me sleep, left crew "heartbroken"

Next article Mercedes: Bottas an "alpha" driver like Hamilton

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Jonathan Noble



Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brundle awarded OBE in King’s New Year’s honours



The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season

Formula 1

Formula 1

The new rules dilemma that will define the 2025 F1 season



Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

Formula 1

Formula 1

Australian GP

Verstappen issues Red Bull title warning in push for RB21 progress

More from

McLaren



The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

The figures that show Mercedes has lost its supremacy in F1 2026



McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"

Formula 1

Formula 1

United States GP

McLaren held fresh talks after Singapore GP clash as Lando Norris promises to "make better decisions"



Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Formula 1

Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Latest news



Tony Stewart: violent Talladega Truck wreck "knocked the wind out of me"

NASCAR Truck

NSTR NASCAR Truck

Talladega

3 min

Tony Stewart: violent Talladega Truck wreck "knocked the wind out of me"



Cleetus McFarland “pissed” after early Talladega NASCAR Truck crash

NASCAR Truck

NSTR NASCAR Truck

Talladega

22 min

Cleetus McFarland “pissed” after early Talladega NASCAR Truck crash



F1 United States GP live commentary and updates - Leclerc on top in FP2

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

1 h

F1 United States GP live commentary and updates - Leclerc on top in FP2



Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

United States GP

1 h

Exploring Ferrari's 'less than a tenth' US GP update package

Feature

Discover prime content



Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time

Formula 1

United States GP

By Ronald Vording

Max Verstappen’s words explained: Why Red Bull’s turnaround is so different this time



Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR

Formula 1

United States GP

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Mission control: Inside the FIA and F1's latest answer to football's VAR



How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect

Formula 1

United States GP

By Filip Cleeren

How Kimi Antonelli levelled up his character to be F1 2026's world champion-elect



Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Formula 1

By Jake Boxall-Legge

Why Oscar Piastri has struggled to show his best with this year's McLaren MCL40

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe