Barcelona- a city preparing to host the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ- has become the stage for one of the most significant developments in professional cycling: the launch of the NSN Cycling Team, a project co-owned by football legend Andrés Iniesta and backed by the Swiss-Catalan investment fund Stoneweg. With a WorldTour licence already secured, the team steps immediately into cycling’s top tier, signaling both sporting ambition and a complete break from its predecessor, Israel–Premier Tech.
Andrés Iniesta Trades the Pitch for the Peloton
For Andrés Iniesta, the move represents far more than the expansion of a business portfolio. “This new step is meaningful on many levels… it’s about values, excitement, community, and the work behind every rider,” he said during the presentation at the Palau Martorell.
The former Barcelona and Spain star repeatedly emphasized the deep personal connection he has always felt to cycling- recalling afternoons watching the Tour, Giro, and Vuelta with his grandfather- and presented the project as a natural extension of his company NSN (Never Say Never), founded in 2018 to manage sports and entertainment ventures.
“This is a very important step for NSN at all levels,” Iniesta said. “We are excited, motivated, and eager to enjoy the journey ahead.”
Barcelona at the Center of World Cycling
Barcelona’s mayor Jaume Collboni celebrated the choice of the Catalan capital for NSN’s unveiling, noting that cycling has long been embedded in the city’s culture.
“Barcelona and cycling are an unbeatable combination,” he said. “With the Grand Départ and the arrival of this new team, the city becomes the epicenter of global cycling.”
The symbolism is unmistakable: a Barcelona icon is now helping to build a Barcelona-rooted WorldTour team just months before the city sends the first riders off the Tour’s opening time trial in 2026.
A New Identity — Swiss License, Spanish Heart
The NSN Cycling Team enters the WorldTour with a Swiss licence, reflecting Stoneweg’s role as principal backer, but the organizational structure remains firmly Spanish, with an operational base in Girona, one of Europe’s main cycling hubs.
Stoneweg CEO Jaume Sabater described the project as “unique and unexpected” within professional cycling. For the fund, the team is both a business investment and a cultural project aimed at strengthening sport in Catalonia and abroad.
Biniam Girmay: The New Star of the Project
As a statement of intent, NSN’s marquee signing is Biniam Girmay, one of the most exciting riders in the modern peloton and the first Black African winner of the Tour de France’s green jersey.
“This is the best team for my characteristics,” Girmay said. “We want to win stages in the Tour.”
General manager Kjell Carlström- who previously led Israel- Premier Tech- praised Girmay’s leadership and framed the team’s rebirth as the beginning of “a new era.”
Although the squad will primarily target sprint victories, Carlström insisted the team aims to be competitive across stage races and Grand Tours.
Alongside Girmay, NSN confirmed young Spanish talent Pau Martí, several British riders including Stevie Williams, Jake Stewart, and Ethan Vernon, and a strong sprint-train known for its cohesion.
Also Read: Giro d’Italia 2026 Route Revealed: A Cross-Continental Epic Forged In Bulgaria And Finished In Rome
Leaving Controversy Behind
The team’s relaunch closes a turbulent chapter for Israel–Premier Tech, whose 2025 season was overshadowed by widespread pro-Palestinian protests, the withdrawal of major sponsors, and internal disputes- including the ongoing legal case involving Canadian climber Derek Gee. NSN’s leadership avoids political associations and focuses instead on repositioning the project around multicultural values, team unity, and a fresh brand identity built under the slogan “Redesigning the Ride.”
A Project of Culture, Sport, and Ambition
The new kit- sky blue, orange, and black- is inspired by Barcelona and by the team’s Racing for Change solidarity project in Rwanda, underscoring NSN’s commitment to inclusivity and global outreach.
Iniesta summarised the team’s philosophy simply: “Cycling teaches us that only one wins, but the collective effort defines us.”
With strong financial backing, a WorldTour licence, and one of the sport’s most marketable leaders in Biniam Girmay, NSN Cycling enters 2026 as one of the most intriguing new forces in the peloton. And with Barcelona poised to host the Tour de France start, few launches could have been more symbolic.
