Bahrain Victorious to Kick Off 2026 European Season in Spain
# Bahrain Victorious Set to Launch 2026 European Cycling Season in Spain
As the WorldTour calendar heats up with the Tour Down Under in Australia, Bahrain Victorious is gearing up for an exciting start to their 2026 cycling season in Europe. This weekend, the team will participate in three significant races, kicking off with the 2nd Clàssica Camp de Morvedre (UCI 1.1) on Friday, January 23. The action continues with the 3rd Ruta de la Cerámica – GP Castellón (UCI 1.1) on Saturday, January 24, before culminating in the 42nd Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969 (UCI 1.1) on Sunday, January 25.
The Clàssica Camp de Morvedre will showcase the seasonal debut of Italian climber Antonio Tiberi, who will be focusing on assessing his condition. The race is a challenging 164 km course starting and finishing in Estivella (Valencia) that includes an impressive 2,568 metres of elevation gain and features the Alto del Garbí climb (5.05 km at a 9.2% average gradient) — a critical point set to be tackled three times.
Bahrain Victorious Sports Director Gorazd Štangelj noted the importance of this climb, stating, “The race will be decided on the climb we do three times, so we will invest in positioning there. Tiberi will be supported by his teammates all day long, especially at the critical points. The approach to the climb is technical, so it’s crucial to bring and keep our leader safe and well-positioned.”
Tiberi will be joined by teammates Alberto Bruttomesso, Roman Ermakov, Mathijs Paasschens, and newcomer Alec Segaert for this race. The lineup also features two promising riders from the Bahrain Victorious Development Team, Thomas Capra and Bálint Feldhoffer.
Following their debut in the Clàssica Camp de Morvedre, Bahrain Victorious will return for both the Ruta de la Cerámica and the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana. The 3rd Ruta de la Cerámica on Saturday will see some alterations in the roster, with Nikias Arndt, Vlad Van Mechelen, and Pau Miquel stepping in for Bruttomesso, Capra, and Tiberi. Notably, Miquel, who previously secured 7th place in this event in 2024, will don Bahrain Victorious colors for the first time in this race covering 171.7 km from Castellón to Onda.
The concluding event of the three-day block, the Clàssica Comunitat Valenciana 1969, runs from La Nucia to Valencia over 199.5 km. This year’s route promises a selective first and middle section, interspersed with renowned climbs such as the Col de Rates, leading into a relatively flatter finish towards Valencia. After taking a break during the GP Castellón, Bruttomesso will make his return for this race, alongside Thomas Capra. The rest of the lineup remains consistent, with Arndt, Miquel, Paasschens, and Van Mechelen, joined by U23 Serbian Champion Mihajlo Stolić from the Development Team.
This weekend marks an exciting start for Bahrain Victorious as they embark on their European campaign with a mixture of seasoned riders and fresh talent, promising a thrilling kickoff to the new season.
