Bahrain - Victorious lose three Grand Tour top-10 finishers. Can Lenny Martinez lead the rebuild?
Cycling
Bahrain - Victorious go into 2027 without three of their most experienced stage racers. Pello Bilbao has retired, Damiano Caruso is moving into the team car as a sports director and Santiago Buitrago has joined NSN Cycling Team, leaving Antonio Tiberi and Lenny Martinez with more responsibility in the Grand Tours.
Bahrain have signed Cristian Rodriguez from XDS Astana Team, Ibon Ruiz from Kern Pharma and Liam Slock from Lotto-Intermarche. Seth Dunwoody and Kasper Borremans have also been promoted from the development team.
Bilbao and Caruso retire as Buitrago joins NSN
Bilbao retires after several years as one of Bahrain Victorious' most dependable riders. The Basque rider could contend for high overall finishes in stage races and brought valuable experience to the Grand Tours.
Bilbao was equally valuable when riding for others. He could be relied on in difficult race situations and adapted to whatever role the team needed. Bahrain will now have to share those responsibilities among several riders.
Caruso will bring his knowledge of the peloton to the team car in 2027, where his experience could help guide Bahrain's younger riders.
Buitrago joins NSN Cycling Team after seven seasons with Bahrain, where he established himself as one of their leading climbers. The Colombian won stages at the Giro d'Italia, Paris-Nice and the Vuelta a Burgos, while his results at the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana made him an important option in stage races.
His departure leaves Bahrain with fewer riders who can challenge for the general classification or contest mountain stages. At 27, Buitrago could still have had several years at the highest level with the team.
Buitrago leaves Bahrain for NSN Pro Cycling in 2027
Cristian Rodriguez among five Bahrain Victorious arrivals
The signing of Cristian Rodriguez from XDS Astana Team is Bahrain's biggest move to strengthen their climbing group. The Spaniard has experience in stage races and gives the team another option for the general classification, as well as support in the mountains.
Ibon Ruiz can work for his teammates and get into breakaways, while Liam Slock gives Bahrain greater depth. Both signings give the team more tactical options.
Promoting Seth Dunwoody and Kasper Borremans is part of Bahrain's plan to bring more young talent through their development programme and build the squad for the longer term. Both riders will need time to find their feet at WorldTour level.
| Rider | Previous team | Potential role |
| Cristian Rodriguez | XDS Astana Team | Climber and general classification option |
| Ibon Ruiz | Kern Pharma | Team support and climbing duties |
| Liam Slock | Lotto-Intermarche | Adds depth to the squad |
| Seth Dunwoody | Bahrain development team | Young rider with room to develop |
| Kasper Borremans | Bahrain development team | Young rider with room to develop |
Tiberi and Lenny Martinez must take on more responsibility
Antonio Tiberi has shown he can contend for strong results in stage races and has room to establish himself as one of Bahrain's leaders. Buitrago's departure could give the Italian more opportunities to lead at Grand Tours, where he will have to show he can stay in contention over three weeks.
Lenny Martinez is another rider Bahrain are counting on. The Frenchman's climbing makes him a potential leader in one-week races and Grand Tours. Bahrain will want him to build on his progress and turn that climbing ability into bigger results.
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Jakob Omrzel is among the next generation of riders Bahrain want to develop. The young Slovenian could take on a bigger role over the coming seasons, helping the team bring future leaders through its own ranks.
Matej Mohoric will remain a leader for the Classics and other one-day races. His experience and versatility give Bahrain options beyond the stage races, while Alec Segaert could strengthen the team in the Classics and time trials.
Jorge BorregueroWriter
Jorge Borreguero is a journalist with a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid and has been a writer for Cyclinguptodate and Ciclismoaldia since early 2023. In this role, he has played a key part in the evolution of the website, particularly as a specialist covering Movistar Team. He regularly writes race reports, analytical pieces, and in-depth features about the team, and has conducted exclusive interviews and attended multiple team presentations, providing readers with firsthand insights into one of the leading professional cycling squads.
Throughout his career, Jorge has maintained a strong focus on sports journalism, gaining experience across a variety of disciplines, including basketball and football. However, his current work is almost entirely dedicated to cycling, contributing extensively to Ciclismoaldia and its sister website Cyclinguptodate. For these platforms, he combines thorough research with detailed reporting to deliver high-quality content, ranging from race previews and results to expert analysis of teams and riders.
Jorge’s reporting is marked by accuracy, depth, and a commitment to providing readers with reliable and authoritative information. His direct engagement with teams, athletes, and events ensures that his coverage reflects firsthand knowledge and professional insight. Through his work, he has established himself as a trusted voice in professional cycling journalism, bridging the gap between the sport and its global audience while maintaining rigorous editorial standards.
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