Top Bahrain national team cyclists Ahmed Madan and Ahmed Naser are part of the newly established under-23 development team of professional cycling outfit Team Bahrain Victorious.
Bahrain Victorious, founded by His Majesty King Hamad’s representative for humanitarian work and youth affairs and Supreme Council for Youth and Sport (SCYS) chairman Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, announced yesterday the launch of the official development squad.
It marks a key milestone in Bahrain Victorious’ commitment to developing young talent in cycling and setting them up for success as they look to enter the UCI WorldTour (WT) – the premier international road racing series held annually, sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the sport’s worldwide governing body.
The participation of the kingdom’s talented pair on the development team was confirmed by Bahrain Cycling Association (BCA) president Dr Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
Dr Shaikh Khalid highlighted that by being a part of this programme, Madan and Naser have the opportunity to be called up during the season for select races. He also highlighted that their participation with the development team will also act as an inspiration for other young Bahraini cyclists and give them a target to look ahead to in the future.
“We are very fortunate to have Madan and Naser doing this elite level of racing, which definitely provides them with the experience they need in order to become top riders and achieve great results in the various competitions they take part in,” Dr Shaikh Khalid told the GDN last night.
“What’s most important in being part of the development team is that they learn from the experience – how to be professionals, the attitude for training and for racing, and the multiple things you can benefit from just by being part of a professional cycling team.
“This opportunity reflects heavily on the development of cycling in Bahrain with the support of His Highness Shaikh Nasser and with the Bahrain Victorious brand becoming one of the most well-known teams on the world circuit.
“The support of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa and the sports authorities in Bahrain have also been greatly beneficial for cycling.
“The development of the cycling lane has opened up the opportunity to have more young riders adopting the sport, and having our two riders at this professional level definitely gives the youngsters something to look up to – something that can be kind of a progression for what they can become.”
Bahrain Victorious have partnered since 2022 with Cycling Team Friuli (CTF) U23 to support rider development, achieving great success in identifying and developing promising young talents. These include now-WT competitors Jonathan Milan, Fran Miholjevic, Zak Erzen, and Nicolo Buratti, to name a few.
Starting this year, the CTF U23 structure will fully integrate into Bahrain Victorious and operate as the Bahrain Victorious Development Team, the team said yesterday.
This will thus officially serve as the primary development pathway for emerging talents aiming to progress to the WT squad, and it will provide young riders with enhanced opportunities to grow within the professional cycling ecosystem.
The Bahrain Victorious Development Team will work closely with the WT team, enabling riders to train, race, and learn alongside seasoned professionals. This includes participation in select non-WT classified races, creating an integrated and immersive development experience.
Bahrain Victorious performance director Vladimir Miholjevic emphasised the importance of the initiative. “This transition is an important step in how we support young riders on their journey to becoming professional athletes,” he said.
“By integrating the U23 team into the Bahrain Victorious structure, we can offer these young talents access to advanced performance infrastructure and valuable racing experience. This setup helps them develop their skills while building a stronger connection with our WT team.
“We believe this initiative will provide a solid platform for young riders to grow and prepare for the demands of top-level cycling.”
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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