OFFICIAL: NSN Cycling Team wrap up transfer of top general classification contender on three-year deal to boost Grand Tour strength
CyclingMonday, 10 August 2026 at 12:24
Santiago Buitrago will change scenery from 2027. The Colombian rider will end a seven-season spell at Bahrain Victorious to become one of the standard-bearers of NSN Cycling Team, having agreed a three-year deal through the end of 2029.
At 26, the Bogota-born rider opens a new chapter after spending virtually his entire pro career within the Bahraini structure. His arrival, confirmed in an official statement, marks one of the first major NSN moves under Andrés Iniesta for 2027 and strengthens its focus on Grand Tours and stage races.
Buitrago joins the new project with a clearly defined profile. Climbing is his main strength, and in recent years he has shown he can fight for meaningful GC positions while taking stage wins in both Grand Tours and WorldTour races.
His progression has shown in the results. The Colombian has won consistently over the last five seasons and in 2026 added the Trofeo Laigueglia, his first one-day classic victory, to his palmarès. A result that confirmed his ability to gradually broaden his range. Now he aims to do so in a different environment.
Buitrago ends seven years at Bahrain
The rider himself acknowledges that leaving Bahrain Victorious stems from a need for change after seven years within the same structure.
“After seven years at Bahrain Victorious, I felt it was the right time for a new challenge,” Buitrago explains. “I lived very important moments there, growing as a rider and as a person, but I also wanted to step out of my comfort zone and find a different environment that would help me keep evolving.”
The Colombian says the NSN Cycling Team’s proposal convinced him from the outset, especially thanks to the confidence shown by the project’s management.
“I was very impressed by NSN’s sporting project and the trust the team placed in me from the beginning. I feel we share the same ambition, and this is a place where I can keep developing and fight for important goals,” he adds.
The goal is clear: continue growing as a stage racer and use his climbing qualities to take a step forward in general classifications.
“I feel I still have a lot of room for improvement, so over the next three years I want to keep progressing and become an increasingly complete and consistent rider,” says Buitrago.
Santiago Buitrago en el Trofeo Laigueglia 2026
A new leader for the Grand Tours
The Colombian’s arrival also responds to NSN’s sporting needs. The team wants to strengthen its ability to compete for GC in the main stage races and believes Buitrago can take on a leadership role within that strategy.
Team CEO Kjell Carlström underlines precisely the Colombian’s ability to compete across different scenarios.
“The arrival of Santiago Buitrago is an important addition to NSN Cycling Team’s long-term sporting project, and we are delighted to have Santiago wearing the team’s colors for the next three years,” he says.
Carlström also stresses that, despite seven pro seasons, Buitrago still has room to grow.
“Even with seven years in the peloton, at just 26, Santiago has a long future ahead and margin to keep developing as a rider,” he explains.
The NSN CEO believes his signing will also bring new tactical options thanks to Buitrago’s experience in the mountains and over three-week races.
Buitrago, for his part, is clear about where he wants to steer this new phase. “My main goal will be to stay competitive in stage races and keep progressing in the Grand Tours,” he notes.
The Colombian will not pass up a chance to fight for GC when the opportunity arises: “I’d like to battle for the general classification when I have the chance and also help the team achieve the best possible results.”
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NSN’s first major move for 2027
Buitrago’s signing is the first new rider announced by NSN Cycling Team for the 2027 season. He will be joined by Jens Verbrugghe, who steps up from the organization’s development squad.
The Colombian’s arrival is therefore a statement of intent for a project aiming to keep growing within the WorldTour. Buitrago will bring experience, climbing prowess and, above all, a profile ready to assume responsibilities in the Grand Tours.
After seven years defending the colors of Bahrain Victorious, the Bogota native now has the chance to start from scratch in a team that trusts him to become one of its key leaders.
“I’m highly motivated to start this new chapter and repay the team’s confidence in me with strong results,” Buitrago concludes.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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