Biniam Girmay may find new right-hand man in British sprinter: "He's the kind of teammate I was looking for"
Cycling
Biniam Girmay faces a new stage in his career after leaving Intermarché-Wanty and joining the NSN Cycling Team, the team that was born out of the Israel - Premier Tech structure. He's talked to the media for the first time since his new jersey was announced, and has high ambitions into 2026.
The Eritrean, one of the biggest names in cycling today, explained his motivations and feelings during the presentation in Barcelona, where he shared his ambitions and the confidence he has in his new environment in statements published in the newspaper AS.
“I switched to this team because I want to win everything," he said in words to the Spanish news outlet. Certainly with a Gent-Wevelgem, a Giro stage win, three Tour de France victories and a green jersey, the 25-year old already carries an enviable palmarès. But 2025 didn't go his way, and now he wants to return to the top level with the Swiss team.
He has got plenty sprinters alongside him, and believes Jake Stewart could be very important as a leadout man. “We're roughly the same age, and we race a lot. He's the kind of teammate I was looking for. If you look at this team, you can see that next season it will be one of the most competitive in the sprints. It’s the one that best suits my profile".
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He didn't want to give many words regarding his departure from Intermarché - Wanty. The contractual situation of many riders was not clear, and with NSN also undergoing a name change, his transfer was only announced in early December.
“Wasn’t easy because of the ups and downs at Intermarché. These days, if everything isn’t 100%, it’s impossible to win. And I think that here we have the best weapons: the bikes and the teammates," he assured.
Girmay was also happy to meet former football player Andrés Iniesta, who played for Barcelona - where the team is now based at - and is the founder of NSN, the team's main sponsor. Girmay admires him, despite the two thriving in different sports: "He's a football legend, and they're different sports, but it's incredible that someone so iconic is part of the team. I think it will help cycling move forward".
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A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
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Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
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- You despise him because he calls out the truth....OK clown !frieders303-11-2026
- JV is really slighting himself with not doing the 1 dayers.. 🤷
leedorney02-11-2026 - Watch the interview on youtube. I don't speak French. I do speak English and Spanish and you can hear it in his voice. Years ago LeMond had real personal problems I imagine in no small part because of Armstrong. then Armstrong goes round "full blast" re: LeMond having drinking and drug problems. The same way Andreu was expelled from mainstream cycling so was LeMond. On the positive side the clips of the ride and chatting with old teammates and was good. To seemed like a fun day and experience and good reason brush up his French.atom02-11-2026
- and another no-news article around the ‚2 tokyo jogging rounds‘ headline, this time spiced with some days old ‚news‘ that the LA and japan vacation trips come during or after the tdf route release. i am getting more and more annoyed by this time-stealing no-news crap. but who am i to complain? nobody forces me to come back for more ‚news‘ day after day …Ketterechts02-11-2026
- It would likely be a very steep section of 4.1 km, not changing the average gradient considerably, with the climb remaining 10.1 km at 11.8%. It would reach 20% on the gravel. It would start 1.6 km in, and finish with 4.2 km left to climb (before the short final descent)
Rafionain-Glas02-11-2026 - Welcome to the off-season.
santiagobenites02-11-2026 - guillaume martin in this list is quite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
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