From hot Persian Gulf to green Slovenia

Today we introduce the last of the five World Tour teams that will race in Slovenia – we're of course talking about team Bahrain Merida. Team is new among the elite road cycling teams, it's also new on the list of teams that raced biggest Slovenian race. Teams Hrinkow Advarics Cycleang and Wilier Triestina – Selle Italia are also on the race for the first time ever.

Team was established with the intention of promotion of Bahrain as a country, its founder is Seik Nasser Bin Hamad Al Khalifa. Team is founded from the government budged of this small, but rich monarchy from the Persian Gulf.

Four Slovenian cyclists will race for the team: Borut Božič, Luka Pibernik, Domen Novak & David Per; team also has a Slovenian sports director – Gorazd Štangelj. 13 staff members have signed up for the race, five of them are Slovenians. We can almost say this is a Slovenian team.

First name of the team has to be Italian Sonny Colbrelli (pictured) that took his first professional victory on the stage in Kočevje. That was in 2014.

Riders of this team won 6 stages on the past editions of Tour of Slovenia – Colbrelli and Giovani Visconti won once, Borut Božič was meanwhile faster on four stage. Now sports director, in the past excellent racer Gorazd Štangelj was racing this race nine time, he won first stage of 1993 race. In the same year and later in 1998 he also wore yellow jersey, once more he was also in white.

Sonny Colbrelli: “Tour of Slovenia has a special meaning for me. In 2014 I won my first race in the professional career, that was on the stage from Ribnica to Kočevje. I was faster than Australian Michael Matthews in the sprint finish. I like the race due to its diversity and I’m happy to race here again.”

Gorazd Štangelj: “I decided to race in Slovenia because we have a few young riders that need races in this time of the season, at the same time the length and the difficulty of the race is perfect for shaping the form of Sonny Colbrelli and Borut Božič ahead of Tour de France. David Per and Domen Novak are here to gain experiences. Our Slovenian riders will be in the spotlight, the are all looking forward to this race and have a lot of motivation. Public also expects a lot from team Bahrain Merida, especially because of all Slovenian riders on the team. Our expectations are high, we want to win at least one stage and take Domen Novak to top-5 overall.”

Domen Novak: “I have fond memories on this race, I was already in white on this race, as a best young rider and member of the winning team. Race is very well organized. I’ll fight to take at least white jersey and to get as close as possible to the green jersey. My role on the race is not finalized yet.”

Team Bahrain Merida for Tour of Slovenia

Borut Božič, Slovenia

Domen Novak, Slovenia

Luka Pibernik, Slovenia

David Per, Slovenia

Jon Ander Insausti, Spain

Sonny Colbrelli, Italy

Giovanni Visconti, Italy

Kanstantsin Siutsou, Belarus

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