Vincenzo Nibali is convinced that there would have been an Italian WorldTour team next season if Italian companies had shown more courage to invest in a team at the highest level.  The winner of the Giro d'Italia will wear the colors of Bahrain-Merida next year.

Next season there is no Italian team with a WorldTour license as Lampre-Merida has moved to China. Nibali has attempted to find Italian sponsors and was close to a deal with pasta maker Barilla, but that did not lead to a sponsorship contract. 

“The idea of creating a new group was my wish, there have been many rumors but few concrete facts,” Nibali told Tutto Bici. “In Italy, we explored options, tried to send messages but no one really came forward. The best route forward was this.”

Bahrain Merida has 27 riders under contract for next season. 

"There have been many discussions with riders. Some believed in the project, others didn’t," he said. "The only one I'm really sorry not to have at my side next season is Michele Scarponi. In the past few season, I have built up a friendship off the bike.”

Nibali will start his season in January at the Argentinean stage race Tour de San Juan. He will then start in the Abu Dhabi Tour, before he turns his attention to Tirreno-Adriatico and the final preparation for the Giro d'Italia. "That is my main goal for next season," he said.