Iniesta enters the world of cycling by acquiring the team that bore the name of Israel

BarcelonaThe cycling team formerly known as Israel – Premier Tech has changed hands. In a turn of events, businessman Sylvan Adams is leaving the scene, selling the team's structure to a business group led by a well-known figure: Andrés Iniesta. The former Barcelona player is entering the world of cycling through his company NSN, which will lend its name to a team that is guaranteed participation in the next three editions of the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, and the Vuelta a España. Last week, the details of this operation were finalized, and it has been very positively received within the Union Cycliste Professional (UCP), as the Israel – Premier Tech team had become problematic. Pending a financial audit, a necessary requirement, the new project is already operational and will present its corporate image in the coming days.

Adams is a businessman with close ties to the Israeli government who had justified and defended Israel's actions in Gaza, which led to protests against his team during the last Vuelta a España, and some stages were unable to be completed due to the presence of demonstrators. Adams, born in Canada and a resident of Israel, had been investing in cycling for years, but after the events at the Vuelta, he decided to step aside. First, remove the name of Israel from the jerseys And then he explained that he didn't want to continue investing in a team that wasn't well-received.

A golden opportunity for the company NSN (Never Say Never), one of whose main shareholders is Andrés Iniesta. It's a company born from the one that represented players like Iniesta himself, led by Joel Borràs. NSN has partnered with Stoneweg, a Catalan-Swiss real estate company, to create the NSN Cycling Team, based in Barcelona and Girona. The new team will already be competing in 2026, having acquired the sporting structure of Israel – Premier Tech, one of the best teams in the world in terms of results, for 2024 and 2025, with the Finn Kjell Carlstrom as general manager.

The new team has taken over the entire existing structure, meaning more than 170 people, so there will be a team based in Catalonia competing in the 2026 Tour de France, which will start in Barcelona and include three Catalan stages. Although the NSN Cycling Team will race under the Swiss flag, its operational headquarters will be in Catalonia. The team's best rider is the Eritrean Biniam Girmay, who at 25 years old is making a name for himself after winning the green jersey for the points classification and two stages of the 2024 Tour de France.

“It’s a great challenge for NSN to enter the world of cycling, a sport with a global impact. It represents a fantastic opportunity to explore new ways of communicating and connecting with a sport that aligns with the company’s values and will help NSN bring renewed passion to a sport that has inspired millions of people for years,” said Borràs, a key figure in the growth of NSN events, such as seven friendly matches in different parts of the world, including the three matches of Inter Miami’s Latin American tour and two Barça Legends - Real Madrid Legends matches in Mexico and El Salvador. In addition, NSN has a team in the Danish Second Division, Helsingor FC, a young football player representation division, and a majority stake in GUAVA. the gravel bike company that has Bojan Krkic as a partner.

"This is a proud moment for us, and we are very excited to work with Kjell and the entire team to ensure we can compete at the highest level of world cycling for years to come," said Jaume Sabater, CEO and founder of Stoneweg. The team, which until recently sparked protests and debate, is undergoing a complete transformation with new owners, a Catalan identity, and the backing of Andrés Iniesta.