Niccolò Bonifazio is the next professional ride who has confirmed to be part of BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team. He will be one of the major sprinters in the coming season.

At the young age of 22, Bonifazio, is a hugely talented sprinter. Hisprofessional career began in 2013. He joined Lampre-Merida the following year as a regular rider. In September 2014, he took his biggest victory of his career so far by winning the Coppa Agostoni. In addition to this, he won a stage of the Tour of Japan and three stages and took 2nd place of the Tour of Hainan. In 2015, he achieved another victory, the Gran Premio di Lugano, in a sprint. In August 2015 it was announced that Bonifazio would join Trek Factory Racing for the 2016 season. Bonifazio took multiple top ten finishes, including 5th place in Scheldeprijs, 3rd of the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race and 6th of Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne. He was named in the start list for the 2016 Vuelta a Espana but he unfortunately abandoned on stage 7.

After signing the new agreement Bonifazio commented:

“First of all I would like to say thank both Team Trek-Segafredo for the willingness to reach an agreement and meet my desire to have the chance to express my potential, and Team BAHRAIN MERIDA that offers me this great opportunity. This year has been for me a season of great improvement, during which I could ride all top-level races. Now I look ahead with great enthusiasm to this new adventure, a project built by people that I trusted, that immediately convinced me. I’ll try to be at my best for the next two years to prove my worth and repay the confidence placed in me.”

General Manager of BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team Brent Copeland said about Bonifazio:

“Its fantastic news having Niccolò on team BAHRAIN MERIDA. He is a solid athlete with huge talent of which we haven’t yet seen all of what his true capabilities are. Niccolò is still young at only 22, however he has been in the pro peloton for a few years now. I feel he has matured in the last season and will join our team with an open and dedicated mindset.I feel if Niccolò is given the space he deserves, his true talent will show. This is something we will go out of our way to do in order to give him the opportunity to show his true value. His sprinting is exciting for the fans and his way of racing is something that gives a lot to cycling. I am very optimistic that he will bring some enthusiastic results and great racing in the BAHRAIN MERIDA Pro Cycling Team jersey.”

Niccolò Bonifazio and Trek-Segafredo’s management came to a mutual agreement to terminate the contract linking both parties until the end of 2017. Bonifazio will finish the 2016 season with the USA registered UCI WorldTeam.

General Manager Luca Guercilena said: 

“Niccolò has showcased his potential while riding for our team, in particular with his stage victory in the Tour of Poland, and we are satisfied with his performance on our team this year.  He's looking for opportunities to continue his development that we currently cannot offer and we wish Niccolò the best of luck for his future."