McLaren will end its title partnership with the Bahrain-backed UCI WorldTour cycling team at the end of the 2020 season, the company has confirmed.
McLaren, which is majority owned by Bahrain’s sovereign wealth fund Mumtalakat, linked up with the Bahrain-Merida team ahead of the 2019 season.
The two-wheeled team has several high-profile riders on its roster, including Mark Cavendish and Mikel Landa, the latter aiming for overall victory at the Tour de France.
The event, delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, is scheduled to begin in Nice this weekend.
But ahead of the start of the race it was announced that McLaren will not continue its involvement in the team into 2021.
“Team Bahrain McLaren has worked together with the team’s partners to maintain the team at the top level of pro cycling – both on and off the bike,” read a statement.
“The distinctive Team Bahrain McLaren colours have been ridden to a number of memorable victories so far in this Covid-19 interrupted season, including at the Saudi Tour, Paris-Nice, Circuito de Getxo and Route d’Occitanie.
“The team thanks McLaren for its contribution to the partnership, and wishes it well as it returns its focus to four-wheeled racing.”
