Cavendish has been suffering from the effects of the debilitating Epstein-Barr virus for the last two years.
Diagnosed late, he struggled under the influence of the virus and was finally told in May of this year that he was fully cured. Since then he has been trying to build form, but was not selected for the Dimension Data Tour de France.
Cavendish was rumored to be moving to Bahrain-Merida for 2019, but ultimately signed a one-year contract extension with Dimension Data. Cavendish's relationship with team manager Doug Ryder also deteriorated, and Cavendish's time with the South African team would end after four years.
The move to Bahrain-Merida, which will become Bahrain McLaren in 2020, will see Cavendish teamed up with coach Rod Ellingworth, who developed him in the British under-23 academy and was instrumental in his 2011 world championship win.
Bahrain-Merida currently has Sonny Colbrelli and Phil Bauhaus as its main sprinters, both under contract through 2020, and according to Cyclingnews, the team believes that adding Cavendish will not destabilize the team Cyclingnews reports that the team believes the addition of Cavendish will not destabilize the team.
"I am delighted that Cavendish will be joining Bahrain Media next year. I know him well, we get along well and I have a lot of respect for him," Colbrelli told Cyclingnews. Given his success and his sprinting skills, having him as a teammate will help me improve as a sprinter. I hope that next year he will make a full recovery, return to the Cavendish we know so well, and finish his career with a big win. He may not win 15 races a year like he did in his prime, but he should be able to win again." With Colbrelli targeting hilly races and quasi-classics and Bauhaus still developing as a sprinter, there is room for a pure sprinter like Cavendish. Colbrelli and Cavendish are the only contenders for the lead sprinter's spot in the Tour de France, but depending on stage profiles and finishes, they could share the sprinting opportunities.
"He is a pure sprinter, I am a bit different, I ride well after hilly races and difficult weather. Vincenzo Nibali will move from Bahrain-Merida to Trek-Segafredo in 2020, Rohan Dennis is out of contract, and the team has signed Mikel Landa and Wout Poels, with McLaren as 50% owner, for a fresh start.
Cavendish was working with McLaren, which would become a co-title sponsor, when the British-based but Bahrain-owned motorsport and technology company worked with bicycle brand Specialized. Ellingworth has been working behind the scenes at Bahrain-Merida for several months and officially took over as team manager on October 1. Brent Copeland continued to hold key management positions, and Roger Hammond, who worked with Cavendish at Dimension Data, was named performance manager.
Cavendish will likely move to Bahrain Merida without a reliable leadout from Dimension Data. Longtime leadout Mark Renshaw has retired, and the future of Bernhard Eisel, now 38, would not include a move to Bahrain-Merida.
All Bahrain-Merida riders and staff will meet at McLaren headquarters by the end of October to plan for the 2020 season.
"The team will grow and improve next year for many reasons, including McLaren's involvement," Colbrelli said. 'There's a real sense that we're going to get better and better as a team. That's exciting."
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