Bahrain-Merida team jersey revealed

A first look at the team clothing for the new Bahrain-Merida WorldTour team has been posted online by Prince Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa of Bahrain, who was instrumental in founding the team.

Prince Nasser posted a photograph of himself on his Instagram account along with one of the team's Merida Reacto bikes and the jersey positioned over the top tube.

Although you can't quite see all of the jersey, it is clear that the kits will be predominantly red, with a design of gold emblazoned across the front. A stripe of green and black runs across the chest, displaying the name of bike manufacturer and co-title sponsor Merida.

Prince Nasser posted a message accompanying the photo: "We are extremely proud to be joining an exceptional group of cycling professionals and enthusiasts in our pursuit of further reach to the sport of cycling in our region.

"The Bahrain Merida Pro Cycling Team will also showcase the Kingdom of Bahrain on the global stage, by showcasing the Kingdom as a premier destination for both business and tourism, as well as supporting the growth of cycling within our part of the world.

"No doubt that with the stellar team of cyclists, management and staff alongside the support and passion of the sponsors and cycling enthusiasts in the region will be a great motivation for the team to reach its potential."

The team was awarded WorldTour status last week by the sport's governing body, the UCI, joining 17 other squads in the top-flight race calendar.

Italian Grand Tour star Vincenzo Nibali heads up the team's roster for 2017, where he joins the squad from Astana. Joaquim Rodriguez, Ion Izagirre, Kanstantsin Sivtsov, Enrico Gasparotto and Giovanni Visconti are among the other signings.