We’re making our European debut at the five-stage Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. The 71st edition of the race which runs February 5-9, consists of three stages for the sprinters and two for the climbers.  We expect the fourth stage to be decisive for the GC, with a brutal 5.3km long climb on Sierra de Bernia to the finish with an average gradient of 11.2%.

“It’s Team Bahrain McLaren’s first race in Europe - explains SD Gorazd Štangelj - and we’ll be at the start with a very competitive team, with high-quality riders such as Wout Poels, Dylan Teuns, Matej Mohoric and Pello Bilbao, who was 3rd last year. Besides these, there will be the two young riders, Scott Davies and Kevin Inkelaar, while Ivan Cortina will be our man for bunch sprints. La Volta will be a good test to understand where we are in our preparation and, as usual, I expect a very hard-fought race thanks to riders like Alejandro Valverde or Tom Dumoulin”.

Wout Poels is making his debut in the Team Bahrain McLaren jersey: “I am very excited to race in the new kit. I have good memories of the Volta because I won the 2016 edition wearing the yellow leader jersey from the first to the last race day. I feel good on the bike and I’m looking forward to racing again. This will be an interesting race which will be decided on the Sierra de Bernia: a super steep climb that is not usually done so early in the season”. 

Team Bahrain McLaren’s line-up for Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana: Wout Poels, Dylan Teuns, Pello Bilbao, Ivan Cortina, Scott Davies, Kevin Inkelaar and Matej Mohoric