In 2021, the peloton will become even more international when Ahmed Madan signs his first professional contract with Bahrain Victorious, becoming the first Bahraini rider at the World Tour level.

The team, which loses its co-title sponsor McLaren in 2021, has looked to develop its own talent since its launch in 2017.

Madan has been racing for the national team since 2018, joining the Bahrain Cycling Academy team founded by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the founder of Bahrain Victorious.

The 20-year-old was deemed ready to step up and help represent Bahrain at the top level of the sport.

"Ahmed burst onto the cycling scene through group rides and mountain biking, but it wasn't until he started road racing that he began to show his talent. His first official camp with the national team was in Turkey, where he immediately showed his potential. His passion for cycling has been his greatest asset, driving him to devote himself to the training necessary to reach the top," said Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. [Last season he rode the UCI Continental Circuit with the Bahrain Cycling Academy; stepping up to the UCI World Tour is a huge feat and Ahmed is the first Bahraini rider to join cycling's elite riders. We expect Ahmed to lead a new wave of Bahraini cyclists who can compete at the highest level and bring success to the Kingdom's cycling community."

Madan is the team's fourth signing for 2021 after a pandemic-plagued season in which McLaren withdrew its support and the team was renamed Bahrain Victorious. This season, when McLaren withdrew its support and the team changed its name to Bahrain Victorious, the return of manager Rod Ellingworth to Team Ineos also added to the turbulence.

Madan follows Jack Hague of Mitchelton Scott, Gino Mader of NTT, and Jonathan Milano of NeoPro, while Mark Cavendish, Ivan Garcia Cortina, and Enrico Battaglin have left; he is the 28th player on the 2021 roster.

"First, I would like to thank His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa for giving young Bahraini cyclists a path to compete in this great sport. I am excited to sign with the team and will do my best to make Bahrain proud," said Madan

." This is an opportunity for me to take cycling to the next level and learn from the best cyclists in the world."