If 2025 was the year of the “Israel-Premier Tech” identity crisis, 2026 is the dawn of the NSN Era. A glance at the finalized NSN Cycling Team 2026 bikes roster confirms that while the name sounds like a typo of the famous Messi-Suarez-Neymar trio, the stakes are incredibly high.
The team has undergone a complete structural reboot. Gone is the Israel branding and the Canadian “Premier Tech” money (which fled to Alpecin). In its place stands NSN (Never Say Never), the sports agency co-founded by FC Barcelona legend Andrés Iniesta, backed by the Swiss investment firm Stoneweg.
With a new Swiss license and a new HQ in Barcelona/Girona, the team has distanced itself from geopolitical noise to focus purely on racing. But the departure of their GC future and a messy legal battle suggest the road ahead won’t be smooth.
This preview breaks down the “Girmay Gamble,” the massive tech switch to SCOTT, and why the loss of Matthew Riccitello hurts more than the departure of Chris Froome.
The Power Shift: Betting the House on Girmay
If this team has a heart, it is Biniam Girmay. The Eritrean superstar is the centerpiece of the entire project through 2028.
With the roster shedding its older heavyweights (Woods, Fuglsang, and Froome), the team’s WorldTour survival depends entirely on Girmay delivering massive points in the Classics and Sprint stages. He is no longer just a “contender”, he is the system. If Girmay sneezes, NSN catches a cold.
The “Scandal”: The Derek Gee Exit
While the arrival of Girmay is the headline, the departure of Derek Gee is the open wound. The Canadian sensation unilaterally terminated his contract in August 2025, triggering a massive legal dispute with management claiming damages up to €30M.
Gee is gone (rumored to Lidl-Trek), but the shadow of this lawsuit and the loss of a legitimate Grand Tour engine will hang over the team all season.
NSN 2026 Bike Setup: The Switch to SCOTT
The team has dropped Factor bikes in favor of a new partnership with Scott, aligning with their new Swiss license.
The Real Loss: Matthew Riccitello
Let’s not sugar-coat it. The media will talk about Chris Froome leaving, but that is nostalgia talking. Froome has been a shadow of himself for years.
For me, the catastrophic loss for 2026 is Matthew Riccitello. The young American talent is joining Decathlon CMA CGM Team, taking his immense climbing potential to a direct rival. Losing a future GC star just as he hits his prime is a failure of retention that NSN will regret when the road tilts upward in July.
The Adaptation Game: Factor to SCOTT
Moving manufacturers is a nightmare for mechanics and riders alike. For 2026, the team abandons Factor to join forces with SCOTT, aligning with their new Swiss license.
This is a total ecosystem overhaul. They are moving from a mixed Shimano/FSA/Black Inc setup to a full SRAM/Zipp/Syncros build.
NSN Cycling Team 2026 Bike Specifications
Here is the confirmed build sheet for the 2026 season:
- Frameset: SCOTT Foil RC (The daily driver and serial winner) and Plasma RC TT for time trials.
- Groupset: SRAM Red AXS. The team moves to fully wireless shifting. Expect to see massive 54/41 or 56T 1x setups for Girmay on flat stages to prevent chain drops.
- Wheels: Zipp. A huge aerodynamic upgrade. The team will likely run the 454 NSW for rolling terrain and the deep 858 NSW for fast sprint stages.
- Cockpit: Syncros Creston iC SL. The proprietary one-piece bar/stem from Scott is notoriously stiff, perfect for Girmay’s explosive watt bombs, but potentially harsh for lighter climbers.
- Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace. Interestingly, they are not using Time pedals (owned by SRAM), sticking to the reliability of SPD-SL.
- Tires: Continental. The gold standard GP5000 S TR.
- Saddles: Selle Italia.
- Kit: Ekoï. The team will wear Ekoï jerseys, helmets, and sunglasses, continuing the French brand’s dominance in the peloton.
- Nutrition: Nduranz.
🚴♂️ Shop the NSN 2026 Setup
Ride like Biniam Girmay:
- 👟 The Pedals: Shimano Dura-Ace R9100
- ⚙️ The Groupset: SRAM Red AXS
- 🕶️ The Wheels: ZIPP 303 S Disc
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Management & Ownership
- General Manager: Kjell Carlström. The calm Finn retains his role from the IPT days, providing continuity amidst the chaos.
- Owners:
- NSN (Never Say Never): Andrés Iniesta’s agency, focusing on marketing and image.
- Stoneweg: A Swiss real estate investment firm (providing the financial backbone).
- Base of Operations: Barcelona & Girona, Spain.
NSN Cycling Team 2026 Roster & Transfers
Transfers IN (New Blood)
| Rider | From | Role |
| Biniam GIRMAY | Intermarché-Wanty | The Leader (Classics/Sprints) |
| Lewis ASKEY | Groupama-FDJ | Classics Support / Leadout |
| Ryan MULLEN | Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe | The “Engine” / Leadout |
| Alessandro PINARELLO | VF Group-Bardiani CSF | Young Talent |
| Brady GILMORE | IPT Academy | Neo-Pro Promotion |
| Pau MARTÍ | IPT Academy | Neo-Pro Promotion |
Transfers OUT (The Exodus)
- Matthew RICCITELLO ➔ Decathlon CMA CGM Team (The biggest sporting loss—a future GC star gone).
- Derek GEE ➔ Lidl-Trek (Disputed Transfer).
- Chris FROOME ➔ Unknown (End of an era).
- Pascal ACKERMANN ➔ Team Jayco AlUla.
- Hugo HOULE ➔ Alpecin-Premier Tech (Followed the Canadian sponsor money).
- Riley PICKRELL ➔ Modern Adventure Pro Cycling (The new US ProTeam).
- Michael WOODS ➔ Retired.
- Jakob FUGLSANG ➔ Retired.
- Michael SCHWARZMANN ➔ Unknown.
NSN Cycling Team 2026 Roster
| Rider Name | Nationality | Key Role (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| GIRMAY Biniam | 🇪🇷 Eritrea | Team Leader / Classics / Sprints |
| WILLIAMS Stephen | 🇬🇧 UK | Puncher / Stage Hunter |
| STRONG Corbin | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Sprinter / Uphill Finishes |
| BLACKMORE Joseph | 🇬🇧 UK | Future GC Star / The “Next Big Thing” |
| LUTSENKO Alexey | 🇰🇿 Kazakhstan | Stage Hunter / Veteran Leader |
| HIRT Jan | 🇨🇿 Czechia | GC / Pure Climber |
| VERNON Ethan | 🇬🇧 UK | Sprinter / Track Specialist |
| SHEEHAN Riley | 🇺🇸 USA | Classics / Rouleur |
| SCHULTZ Nick | 🇦🇺 Australia | Puncher / Stage Hunter |
| NEILANDS Krists | 🇱🇻 Latvia | Breakaway Specialist / Rouleur |
| MULLEN Ryan | 🇮🇪 Ireland | Road Captain / TT Engine |
| ASKEY Lewis | 🇬🇧 UK | Classics / Leadout |
| HOFSTETTER Hugo | 🇫🇷 France | Sprinter / Leadout |
| STEWART Jake | 🇬🇧 UK | Classics / Fast Finisher |
| BENNETT George | 🇳🇿 New Zealand | Mountain Support |
| CLARKE Simon* | 🇦🇺 Australia | Road Captain (Retiring Feb 1) |
| BOIVIN Guillaume | 🇨🇦 Canada | Road Captain / Classics |
| VAN ASBROECK Tom | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Leadout / Experience |
| FRIGO Marco | 🇮🇹 Italy | Climber / Breakaway |
| LOUVEL Matis | 🇫🇷 France | Classics Support |
| CÔTÉ Pier-André | 🇨🇦 Canada | Rouleur / Domestique |
| EINHORN Itamar | 🇮🇱 Israel | Sprinter |
| VAN TRICHT Floris | 🇧🇪 Belgium | Classics Support |
| RAISBERG Nadav | 🇮🇱 Israel | Domestique |
| KOGUT Oded | 🇮🇱 Israel | TT / Domestique |
| PINARELLO Alessandro | 🇮🇹 Italy | Young Talent / Climber |
| GILMORE Brady | 🇦🇺 Australia | Neo-Pro / Time Trialist |
| MARTÍ Pau | 🇪🇸 Spain | Neo-Pro |
*Simon Clarke will retire following the Tour Down Under in January 2026.
The Optimizer’s Verdict
This is a transition year. The team has shed the heavy contracts of the past decade to build a younger, sharper squad around Girmay and the exciting British talent Joseph Blackmore.
But the biggest question isn’t the legs, it’s the bike. The switch to Scott brings the aero Foil RC into the mix, but is it fast enough to beat the Cervélo S5 or the Colnago V4Rs? I have analyzed the NSN setup against every other machine in the peloton.
See how the Scott Foil RC ranks against the “Superbikes” of Visma and UAE in my complete WorldTour 2026 Team Bikes Master Guide.
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