Before we could even speculate on a new team or owner… the news comes in. The team, once known as Israel–Premier Tech, will now be known as NSN Cycling Team and under a Swiss license, but still the backdrop couldn’t be more chaotic. After a season marked by protests, national-identity backlash, and sponsorship exits, the squad will ride into 2026 under the name NSN Cycling Team, registered in Switzerland and headquartered in Spain.
The Reboot – NSN Cycling Team
Where did this all come from? Let us give you the quick, fast hits.
- It all started to unravel when pro-Palestinian protests began interrupting race finishes at the Vuelta a España, and the team was later excluded from the Giro dell’Emilia for “public safety concerns.”
- In response, equipment partner Factor Bikes delivered a blunt ultimatum: “Without a name change, without a flag change, we won’t continue.”
- Then, the title sponsor, Premier Tech, followed suit, citing that the original raison d’être of the partnership had been “overshadowed to a point where it has become untenable to continue.”
- In mid-November, the team quietly shuttered its website and social media accounts, parted ways with Chris Froome, and went effectively dark ahead of the rebrand.
- Scott bikes were noted entering the IPT service course, which was seen as a possible credit toward the Factor ultimate coming to fruition.
- Finally, on November 20, the new name and structure were confirmed: the squad will compete as NSN Cycling Team under a Swiss licence, backed by international sports-entertainment company Never Say Never (NSN) and investment firm Stoneweg.
The Next Chapter
For NSN Cycling Team, the challenge is clear: make the rebrand stick. Results alone won’t suffice — trust, clarity of identity, and sponsor stability will matter just as much. The team will need to show that the restructure isn’t just cosmetic, but foundational.
With the peloton watching, the expectation is heavy: this is about more than changing kits, it’s about salvaging a team’s place in the sport.
