December 10, 2019 - Bahrain Merida, one of the biggest names in global cycling, return to Hvar for winter training for the third successive year. 

One of the most interesting developments on the island of Hvar in recent years has been the concerted efforts to diversify its tourism away from the sun and sea stereotype to an island of culture, gastronomy and adventure. Home to the most UNESCO heritage of any island in the world, including its healthy Mediterranean diet, Croatia's premier island has also enjoyed considerable success in establishing itself as a great adventure destination. 

Local adventure tourism agencies have developed activities such as sailing, sea kayaking, rock climbing, and hiking, while annual events such as the Otillo Swimrun, Hvar Half Marathon, Faros Marathon, the Easter and Ney Year regattas have all added a competitive edge and helped to develop the brand of Hvar as an adventure tourism destination. 

And there is one other activity where there has been great progress in recent years - cycling. 

Bike routes have been introduced and a dedicated Hvar cycling map produced, but in terms of symbolism for Hvar as a cycling destination, nothing quite beats the arrival of the illustrious visitors each December. 

Now in its third year, the world-class cycling team of Bahrain Merida, including Mark Cavendish, arrive on beautiful Hvar for their winter training programme. Their 10-day stay this year will include 80 members of the team, a significant injection of life into Hvar's December calendar. The team's new name from January 1 will be Bahrain McLaren, after the motorsport giants entered the cycling world with Bahrain Merida, it was announced at a press conference last week in London. And how fitting that the location of their first outing is with one of the tourism giants of Europe, with Hvar recently having been named the best island in Europe by Conde Nast. 

As always, Bahrain Merida will be accommodated by Suncani Hvar Hotels, this year at Hotel Amfora.

As in previous years, the team will be available to both journalists and guests in a press conference, and this year's stay will also include a fun race called Fun Bike Ride. 

I was there for the arrival of Bahrain Merida a couple of years ago - it was great to see Hvar so alive in December, even more so to see Bahrain Merida back again. Welcome back! 

To learn more about the island of Hvar, check out the Total Croatia Hvar in a Page guide.  

Professional cyclists and their entourage are very much like seamen. On the road 200 days a year, their life surroundings dedicated to their job. Still they manage to have families? Seriously? In December a ferry brought these hardworking globetrotters to Hvar for a work trip.

How I learned that a horse can foster the coming of a cycling team, that Vincenzo Nibali considers Croatia to have pleasant roads for cycling and some cyclists actually choose Croatia to evade higher taxes in Italia.

Cycling hotels are a relatively new concept in Croatia, and the recent visit by Bahrain Merida to Pharos bayhill hvar hotel was a chance to see how Hvar's first bike hotel fared, as it hosted one of the world's top cycling teams for its winter training. 

Leading world cycling team Bahrain Merida concluded their winter training camp on the island of Hvar on December 15, 2017. TCN followed them around the December roads of the island. It was quite an experience. 

Rainy Hvar sees Vincenzo Nibali announces he is riding the Tour de France this year.

Croatia's premier island welcomes some rather active guests on December 6, 2017.