McLaren goes cycling with Vincenzo Nibali and Team Bahrain-Merida!

©McLaren

The McLaren Group will enter the world of pro-cycling in 2019 following its decision to enter a 50 percent joint-venture with Team Bahrain Merida, the UCI WorldTour squad of 2014 Tour de France winner Vincenzo Nibali.

The partnership between McLaren and Bahrain-Merida will result in a technical and commercial collaboration between McLaren Applied Technologies and the automotive group's marketing and commercial divisions.

As a reminder, both McLaren and Bahrain-Merida are Bahrani owned, the former through the country's sovereign wealth fund and the latter by Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, a member of the nation’s royal family.

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"Racing, technology and human performance are at the heart of everything we do at McLaren," said John Allert, McLaren's chief marketing officer.

"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."

In the past, McLaren Applied Technologies worked with both Team Sky and British Cycling in the build-up to the London Olympics in 2012.

The company also enjoyed a technical partnership with American cycle manufacturer Specialized, producing the stunning S-Works+McLaren Venge frame used with great success by Mark Cavendish in 2011.

It's hard to predict how much impact McLaren's input will have on the performance of the riders of Team Bahrain-Merida

"We’re not coming in saying ‘Everyone else has been getting it wrong and we are going to get it right’," said Allert.

"We’re looking for areas where we can make a difference. And that process starts on Dec 12."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.