FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SOURCE: ENDURANCE.NET
January 27 2026
As of December 9, 2025, Bahrain holds the status of the Individual Favorite and the most aggressive challenger for the Team title.
Bahrain’s "Royal Endurance Team" is currently the most formidable offensive force in the sport, led by the single most dominant rider in the world today. While France relies on consistency and depth, Bahrain relies on star power and sheer speed.
Here is the detailed status of the Bahraini Team ("Victorious") for the 2026 cycle:
1. Current Team Status: The Reigning Kings
Bahrain enters the 2026 cycle with the ultimate confidence booster: they hold the Individual World Championship title.
- The "Nasser" Era: The team is built entirely around HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who is currently the back-to-back World Champion (winning in Butheeb 2023 and Monpazier 2024).
- The "Double Gold" Goal: While they hold the Individual title, Bahrain missed out on the Team Gold in 2024 (which went to France). Their primary objective for AlUla 2026 is to secure the "Double Gold" (Team + Individual), proving they can finish with three riders, not just one.
2. Key Contenders ("The Royal Squad")
The Bahraini team is unique because it operates almost like a professional Formula 1 team, with a massive stable of horses based in both Bahrain and the UK (at their private facility in Newmarket).
- HH Sheikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa: The Team Captain and Reigning World Champion.
- Status: He is the overwhelming favorite for Individual Gold in 2026.
- Horse Power: He has a rotation of elite superstars, including Everest la Majorie (his 2024 Gold Medal horse) and Darco la Majorie (his 2023 Gold Medal horse). He will likely ride whichever of these two legends is soundest, or debut a new "super horse" kept secret until the event.
- Jaafar Mirza:
- Status: A reliable senior rider for the team who often rides the "second string" horse to ensure a backup plan if Sheikh Nasser encounters trouble.
- The "Victorious" Stable Riders: The team employs a roster of professional jockeys (often including international riders who have naturalized or ride under the Bahraini flag for the event). Expect to see names like Cecilia Garcia (Uruguay) or other top international talent potentially piloting Bahraini horses if rules permit, though the core team will be Bahraini nationals.
3. Strategic Outlook for AlUla
- Home Court Advantage: Although AlUla is in Saudi Arabia, the terrain (desert/sand/rock) is virtually identical to the training grounds in Bahrain. Unlike the French or Spanish who must acclimatize, the Bahraini horses live in these conditions.
- Speed Strategy: Bahrain does not ride for "safe" completions. They ride to break the field. Expect Sheikh Nasser to set a blistering pace (24+ km/h loops) from the very start.
- Risk: This high-risk strategy is why they often win Individual Gold but lose Team Gold (due to vet-outs).
- Correction: For 2026, analysts expect a slightly more measured approach from the supporting riders to ensure they get the three completion scores needed for the Team medal.
Summary of the "Gulf Rivalry"
- Bahrain: The Individual Champions. Aggressive, fast, led by a Royal superstar.
- UAE: The Historical Giants. Deepest string of desert horses in the world. (Bahrain's main rival).
- Saudi Arabia: The Hosts. Rising fast with massive government investment.