Richard Carapaz set for shock NSN move after terminating EF contract - Reports of surprise destination and end of four year spell with team
Cycling
Richard Carapaz could be set to join NSN Cycling Team in a surprise transfer. Reports have emerged that the EF Education-EasyPost rider, who starred in both the Tour de France and Vuelta a Espana this season, has left the team and joined NSN.
Although Carapaz's potential exit from EF has been speculated in recent weeks, INEOS were among the favourites for his signature, making the move to football legend Andres Iniesta's squad a surprise and a mjaor coup in the transfer market.
Wielerflits reports that NSN have won the race for the former Giro d'Italia winner and Olympic champion. The publication reports that he leaves one year earlier than his current deal amid financial constraints at the American team after his noteworthy 2026 season.
His stay in the team was questioned by Johan Bruyneel back in the summer, who claimed a move was close to being certain: “I'm going to say it here first. Maybe Carapaz, maybe very, very, very likely, will not be riding for EF next year. I can't say anything else, but the little bird told me that he's going somewhere else. Although he still has a contract. He still has a contract for 2027.”
Richard Carapaz at the 2026 Vuelta a Espana
NSN win race to sign Carapaz
INEOS, Pinarello Q36.5 and NSN were among those linked, but much of the speculation signalled he could be set to make a return to the British team.
Carapaz rode for INEOS from 2020 to 2021, where he achieved strong results but was not able to win a Grand Tour.
Last winter, the British team paid several million euros to buy out the contract of Oscar Onley from Team Picnic PostNL. It is possible that the same scenario repeats itself.
Read also
Carapaz set to end successful four years at EF
Carapaz's arrival at NSN would represent a major coup for the team, who have added Kasper Asgreen, Santiago Buitrago and Lennart van Eetvelt to their ranks ahead of the 2027 season.
Carapaz's reported departure brings an end to his four seasons at EF, where he took three Tour de France stage wins, a Giro stage as well as the King of the Mountains jersey at both the 2024 and 2026 Tour.
His best overall finish at a Grand Tour came with his third place at the 2025 Giro d'Italia. he also finished fourth place twice at the Vuelta during his time with the American team and took nine wins during the spell.
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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