"I've heard rumors about another team..." - Former Israel - Premier Tech rider on Chris Froome's potential 2026 team and abuse during La Vuelta

Chris Froome has recently been announced as a key collaborator in a new project within cycling, although over recent months there were reportedly rumours that he would join a new team according to NSN Cycling Team's George Bennett. The former teammate of Chris Froome at Israel - Premier Tech also described the abuse he and other riders got during the 2025 Vuelta a España where the team was pressured to leave the race all throughout.

The Kiwi is part of the NSN team, which was created on the base of the former Israeli team. Now under a new license, nationality, sponsors and ownership; it is effectively a different project. "It has nothing to do with it," Bennett said in words to Spanish news outlet Marca.

This was a must after the 2025 season, in which the team's presence in several high-level events led to mass protests, due to Israel's destruction and argued genocide in the Gaza Strip - which has, to this day, led to the death of over 80.000 people, many of them children and women.

The Vuelta was marked by the almost daily protests, which cut stages, led to impromptu finales, and put the riders in danger several times. After the Vuelta, several race organizers forbid the team from participating, and the team's Israeli identity eventually collapsed by the end of the year following the impossibility of remaining in the sport amidst mass sponsor - and even rider - departure.

"Last year was very complicated; you saw what happened at La Vuelta. Having to compete while worrying about external factors is not pleasant at all," he details. "The changes were made because the situation wasn't sustainable. Now we race with more freedom. Even so, everything we've been through has brought us much closer as a team: we had to stick together and speak out. Some teammates received messages that are best left unsaid… We're still a team, but without the burden of last year".

A World Tour rider since 2012, Bennett is effectively a veteran at this point, and a rider with a role versatility at NSN, who lack true Grand Tour contenders. He often has his own chances, whilst sharing that with domestique duties for sprinters such as Ethan Vernon and now also Biniam Girmay.

To perform in the mountains, he knows he has to continue evolving in the modern scheme of cycling, where the speed grows by the year. "I'm not so young anymore: I'm almost 36. Even so, I feel the same as always, and I don't think age is a problem for performance. The thing is, the overall level is getting higher and higher, so I have to adapt and change certain things to stay competitive".

Bennett's season started off quite successfully actually, not entering it with a bang at the Tour Down Under however flying at the New Zealand national championships where he took the victory, only his fourth as a professional rider, and his first in five years. He is now wearing the colours of his country throughout the year, providing extra motivation. He wants to take them to the Tour de France, where he hasn't raced since 2022.

"The Volta a Catalunya is one of my goals. After that, I'll race some smaller events in Spain, since they're close to home, in Andorra. However, my main goal is the Tour de France, along with the Critérium du Dauphiné," he shares. "We'll see how things develop, because I can't guarantee my place in the Tour until I'm at the starting line in Barcelona. Furthermore, it would be very special, as the route will pass almost entirely through Andorra".

He hopes to be racing alongside Biniam Girmay, the team's new leader and main face, who has had a strong start to the season as well. "I've only spent a few days with him at the training camp, but we're going to be competing together a lot. My first impression is very good: he's a champion, very approachable and friendly, a bit like Iniesta. I'm really looking forward to racing alongside him".

Bennett was also asked about Chris Froome, who is most likely retiring from the sport, but has not made such announcement. The Briton spent the previous years of his career in the Israeli team and has not signed a new contract into 2026. He has recently joined Vekta, an AI training platform as a chief innovation officer.

Bennett reveals that the words in the peloton was that he had contacts with another team, which didn't ultimately materialize. "I don't have much information. I don't know if he's still competing, because it seems he's more focused on skiing now. I've heard rumors about another team, but it would be too late for this season," he replied. "With him, you never know; he might even switch sports".