Andrés Iniesta attends NSN official launch - ‘Cycling has always been a passion of mine’

NSN Cycling Team officially launched in Barcelona today, revealing their 2026 season objectives with football legend Andrés Iniesta attending his first official engagement with the team as co-founder.

"Cycling has always been a passion of mine, alongside football. I'm delighted to be experiencing it from the inside now," said Iniesta at the event in Barcelona, which took place just over 200 days before the 2026 Tour de France Grand Départ arrives in the Catalan capital.

Iniesta, who scored the winner in the 2010 World Cup final and won two European Championship titles with the Spanish national team, alongside countless accolades at FC Barcelona, highlighted the significance of NSN's entry into professional cycling as an extension of the global sport and entertainment company's portfolio.

"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," Iniesta added.

Iniesta founded Never Say Never, a sports and entertainment management company with businessman Joel Borras, back in 2018. "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," said Borras.

NSN's cycling venture has been made possible through a partnership with Swiss-based investment platform Stoneweg. The team will compete under a Swiss license while maintaining strong connections to Barcelona and Girona.

"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," explained 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."

Biniam Girmay stands out as the team’s marquee signing ahead of the 2026 season, and the Eritrean star will be looking to reach the heights of the 2024 season, which saw him win three stages and the green jersey at the Tour de France.

"It's so nice to be part of this project," said 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."

The team's strategic direction emphasises opportunistic racing, according to General Manager Kjell Carlström, who attended alongside riders Girmay, Jake Stewart, and Pau Martí, where the team also unveiled their new kit for the 2026 season.

"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," said Carlström. "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," added Carlström.