"I felt really sorry that I refuse that offer": Matej Mohoric recounts departure from early UAE to ride for Bahrain

Over the course of years, Matej Mohoric built for himself a reputation of a fearless attacker (and descender) who often finds the most unlikely paths to victory. However in 2016, he was still much of a greenhorn with just a 2013 under-23 world title to his name. And to add to that, a shocker came with his team Lampre-Merida nearly falling apart late into the season as a Chinese sponsor backed off at a last minute with little hopes of a solution at the period.

"The sponsorship ended by contract at the end of 2016. And they decided not to extend," Mohoric doesn't blame Lampre for the chaotic situation at the end of 2016 at the Domestique Hotseat podcast.

But things seemed to be heading in a good direction at first... until they weren't anymore.

"Almost everything was already in place for the team to be backed by a Chinese company… then things went south. We realised that at the end of the season, quite late. We were basically left without a sponsor and the team was hanging in the air. We already had our training bikes that were all orange. For us, it was a done deal before and it was quite a shock to realise that there was now nothing," he said.

It's about that time when Mauro Giannetti stepped into the picture with his plan to save the project through a new partner from Middle East. First of a kind at the time as Bahrain's project was only about to be born that same off-season. It was thanks to UAE that the team was able to proceed into 2017 with nearly unchanged plans, saving many careers in the process.

"It was a little bit hectic from the start because it all happened so fast," Mohoric said. "But we had a good roster, good riders because the Chinese sponsor had a solid budget. We just changed the jersey and started racing. We had a pretty good season, all things considered," he recounts.

It was precisely in 2017 that Mohoric secured his first big victory, winning the stage 7 of the Vuelta a Espana. Of course, using his trademark downhill attack.

Even though the project got off to a good start despite turbulent beginnings, the early years didn't show many signs that a decade later, UAE Team Emirates - XRG would become the cycling's reference point as the world's best team. "It was probably not the most organised team there was that year. Some other teams were years ahead… Team Sky was winning everything almost," he said.

"Mauro was always saying that he and the sponsor were striving to be the best team in the world, taking baby steps. Now they have the biggest budget and the best riders in the world."

But at the time, Mohoric was already dreaming of another Middle East oil giant with Bahrain Merida project well under way. With a close person Milan Erzen behind the steering wheel, the Slovenian already knew back in 2016 his steps would eventually lead to his current team, despite a contract at UAE until 2017.

"During that uncertainty, Milan Erzen was already planning this project. He’s very close to me, almost like my second father. He knew me since a young age and helped me get into pro cycling. It was logical for me to join. We agreed to reserve a place for me there, not the first year, because I was still under contract with Lampre, but the following year," Mohoric explained

Despite some concerns, Mohoric enjoyed the pivotal season of UAE who offered Mohoric a contract extension. However his heart was already at Bahrain at the time: "There was not an option for me to stay, even though I was offered a contract. I actually felt really sorry that I had to refuse that offer, but I was looking forward to the future with Bahrain. If I had to go back, I would do the same again. I’m not regretting my choice."