Earlier today Bahrain Merida presented Meiyin Wang as the 26th signing. According to team manager Brent Copeland, the total number of riders will be 28. This team is from the Middle East to do it in 2017, he told La Gazzetta dello Sport .

Copeland had to refuse a solid candidate.  45-year-old Chris Horner had offered himself to the team manager after the pair previously collaborated at Lampre-Merida. 

"We were close to a contract with John Darwin Atapuma, but unfortunately it failed (the Columbian chose TJ Sport, the successor of Lampre-Mareida, ed.). We were also contacted by Chris Horner, but if you build a new team, it is difficult to make everyone happy," Copeland explains. 

The team will announce the final two rides at a later stage.