UAE Abu Dhabi

The Middle East’s second WorldTour team only formed in December, but already has big ideas about winning, and inspiring a nation to get on their bikes.

- Andy Sherwood

Back in December, a quiet news day suddenly sprung to life with an announcement about one of pro cycling’s WorldTour teams, Lampre-Merida. A new owner had been on the cards for some time, with a Chinese bidder tipped as the landing spot for the Italian outfit. Then out of nowhere came the news: the new owners weren’t Chinese, they were Emirati – UAE Abu Dhabi was born.

It’s great news for the region and even better news for riders, including Ben Swift, who was understandably nervous about his future before the deal in the UAE was struck. ‘It was in the back of my head but I was trying not worry about it too much,’ he says. ‘It was affecting me a little bit but I was trying just to focus on my training and have confidence in the management to sort it out.’

The man behind the new team is Emirati Matar Suhail Al Yabhouni Al Dhaheri and he says the UAE’s ruling royal family are one big reason why the country now has a pro cycling team. ‘Our leadership is encouraging us to try this sport,’ he says. ‘They are opening eyes to something healthy, cheap and easy to do.’