Team Bahrain Victorious Invests in Youthful Talent to Build a Strong Future in WorldTour Cycling
Team Bahrain Victorious is making a strategic shift towards nurturing young cycling talents and grooming them to become future champions in the WorldTour. In line with this commitment, the team has recently added four promising young riders to their ranks: Alberto Bruttomesso, Finlay Pickering, Zak Erzen, and Kasper Borremans.
Alberto Bruttomesso, a 19-year-old Italian rider who joined Bahrain Victorious’ under 23 development team last year, is set to make his transition to the WorldTour ranks in 2024. Bruttomesso’s talent and potential earned him this promotion, giving him the opportunity to compete at the highest level of the sport.
Joining him is Finlay Pickering, a 20-year-old British talent who has already shown promise by winning the General Classification of the Tour Alsace in 2022. Pickering’s impressive skills were further highlighted this year when he claimed the King of the Mountains jersey at the Alpes Isère Tour. His addition to Team Bahrain Victorious is a testament to the team’s commitment to nurturing young talents.
Team Bahrain Victorious also signed two young riders, Zak Erzen and Kasper Borremans, who will undergo a development process before joining the WorldTour. Erzen, a 17-year-old Slovenian, won the 2022 Men’s Junior World Championship in the elimination race and will transition from Adria to Bahrain Victorious’ development team in 2024. He will then officially join the WorldTour team in 2025.
Meanwhile, Borremans, the current Finnish men’s junior ITT national champion, has shown incredible potential and will follow a clear path through the team’s ecosystem of development teams. He will spend his final year in 2024 at Bahrain Victorious’ Junior academy, followed by two years at the under 23 development team, before making his anticipated debut with Team Bahrain Victorious in 2027.
Milan Erzen, Managing Director of Bahrain Victorious, expressed his excitement for the team’s new signings and their strategic direction towards youth and talent development. He emphasized the team’s commitment to creating a comprehensive ecosystem that empowers young riders to thrive and reach their full potential. Erzen also mentioned their dedication to supporting young ex-cyclists who may not have made it to the WorldTour by providing opportunities for them to contribute to the sport in staff roles.
In response to the signings, the riders expressed their gratitude and excitement for the opportunities that lie ahead. Bruttomesso shared his experience of learning and growing during his time with Bahrain Victorious’ development team, while Pickering expressed his eagerness to work with the team and become the best cyclist he can be. Erzen expressed gratitude for the support he received in his development and is looking forward to further learning with his new team, while Borremans expressed his happiness to have the opportunity to climb the ranks with one of the best teams in the peloton.
With these young talents on board, Team Bahrain Victorious is setting the stage for a promising future in WorldTour cycling. Their strategic investments in developing and supporting young riders demonstrate their dedication to shaping a brighter future for the sport.
