Andrés Iniesta: “Cycling has always been a passion of mine, alongside football. I’m delighted to be experiencing it from the inside now.”
Kjell Carlström, NSN Cycling Team General Manager: “The focus will be on opportunistic racing across the season. I believe we can achieve outstanding results in 2026.”
Biniam Girmay: “I chose this team because I want to win every race I can. This team gives me the support I need to do this.”
In just over 200 days the eyes of the international cycling world will be on Barcelona when the Tour de France Grand Départ comes to town. But today, at its official team launch, NSN Cycling Team shone the spotlight on the city that has inspired the team’s jersey design for the coming season.
Attended by Spanish football legend and NSN co-founder Andrés Iniesta, NSN co-founder Joel Borràs, Stoneweg CEO Jaume Sabater, and NSN Cycling Team General Manager Kjell Carlström, as well as cyclists Biniam Girmay, Jake Stewart, and Pau Martí, today’s event in the heart of the city marked a new chapter ahead of the coming WorldTour cycle.
In his first official engagement with the team, Iniesta highlighted the exciting opportunity for NSN to enter professional cycling, adding to the global sport and entertainment company’s portfolio.
He says: “Cycling has always been a passion of mine, alongside football. I’m delighted to be experiencing it from the inside now.
“This is a very important step for NSN on every level. We’re excited and motivated, eager to share our knowledge and to keep improving. We can’t wait to enjoy the journey ahead.”
NSN co-founder, Joel Borras, says: “This is a unique opportunity. The team is wonderful and has an incredible group of people. We have a lot to learn, and we want to connect cycling in a global way, bringing our own interpretation of sport to the project — and from there, simply enjoy it.”
NSN’s immersion into the world of cycling has been made possible by a strategic alliance with Swiss-based investment platform Stoneweg, and a shared vision to become one of the best cycling teams in the peloton.
“We’re entering the world of cycling at the highest level, through the front door, with a truly unique project — and that’s what motivates us,” adds Stoneweg CEO Jaume Sabater.
“And we’re doing so with the added excitement of the Tour’s Grand Départ in Barcelona. The team will race under a Swiss license, but our soul is in Barcelona, and part of the team’s base will be in Girona.”
Redesigning the Ride
In 2026, NSN Cycling Team’s look, designed by Stijn Dossche of stycle.design, is inspired by the Mediterranean city from which the team’s new identity has been forged.
Its design blends geometry, color blocks, and patterns reminiscent of contemporary Barcelona – a city that never stands still, where tradition meets modernity, where Mediterranean light becomes art, and movement becomes identity.
The incorporation of elements of the Rwanda Imigongo artform act as a subtle nod to the team’s ongoing Racing for Change project, adding to the globality of the UCI WorldTeam, which is home to 15 nationalities. A design made to stand out.
Full focus on 2026
As the team embarks on a new era, riders are more motivated than ever with just over a month until the racing season begins, explains NSN Cycling Team General Manager Kjell Carlström.
“Off the back of our pre-season camp, I can say that there is a renewed sense of excitement and motivation as we prepare for the 2026 season,” adds Carlström.
“Welcoming NSN and Stoneweg, new bike supplier SCOTT, and continuing the journey with Ekoï and other key sponsors has put us in an excellent position to really hit the ground running. The arrival of Biniam Girmay is especially exciting and you can see the cohesion and determination among the rider group.
“Looking at our roster, the focus will be on opportunistic racing across the season. Naturally, we will have a major focus on sprint races, but equally, I believe we can achieve outstanding results in stage races and Grand Tours as stage hunters and really make our mark on the peloton in 2026.”
For Girmay, NSN Cycling Team presents an opportunity not only to achieve his personal goals but continue to shine the spotlight on the development of cycling in Africa.
“It’s so nice to be part of this project,” he says. “I am really looking forward to this season – I think this team can help me to improve and return to the biggest races and win. They believe in me, and I believe in the team. I chose this team because I want to win every race I can. This team gives me the support I need to do this.
“Obviously, it’s a great combination, given the team’s projects in Africa. I want to achieve on the highest level for African cycling and show what is possible for people at home.”
