McLaren Group has announced today that it is to become a 50 percent 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. The partnership will be in three key areas: technical collaboration, human high performance and marketing and commercial services, delivered through McLaren Applied Technologies and the group’s marketing specialism.
McLaren Applied Technologies has been involved in cycling projects previously. In recent years teams at McLaren Applied Technology collaborated with Californian bicycle manufacturer Specialized, on the design and creation of the Specialized S-Works+ McLaren Venge racing bike.
Ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games the company collaborated with Team GB’s cycling, rowing, sailing and canoeing teams on performance management systems designed by McLaren Applied Technologies.
John Allert, Chief Marketing Officer, 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.”
Brent Copeland, General Manager, Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team, said: “McLaren has been raising the bar for technological innovation and sport performance for decades. The combination of our passion and vision for Team Bahrain Merida to be a winning team, with McLaren’s expertise and dedication, is the perfect partnership.”
Duncan Bradley, Health and Human Performance Director, McLaren Applied Technologies, said: “To be the best in sport you need the right vision, athletes, team and technology and I believe we have all of those with the partnership we have entered with Team Bahrain Merida. We will be working side-by-side to ensure an integrated approach and that we get the best out every part of the team.”
