Tour de France 2026 - NSN confirm their '8' as Biniam Girmay leads stage hunt pursuit

The countdown to the 2026 Tour de France is under way. NSN Cycling Team has confirmed the roster it will take to the world’s most prestigious race. The squad will be led by Eritrean star Biniam Girmay, one of the peloton’s marquee names and a headline act in 2024 thanks to three stage wins and the green points jersey.

This year’s edition adds extra appeal for the team, with the race starting in Barcelona, a city closely linked to the team’s title sponsor. The Catalan capital will host the opening three days before the peloton heads into France, an ideal backdrop to launch three weeks of all-out racing.

The sporting plan is clear: build a strong unit around Girmay for the bunch finishes, while also seeking opportunities across other terrains over the 21 stages.

Alongside the Eritrean leader will be Britons Jake Stewart and Lewis Askey, Frenchman Matîs Louvel, and Belgian Tom Van Asbroeck, who returns to the Tour de France after six years away. This group will be key in the sprint build-up and in positioning Girmay at the decisive moments on flat stages.

The line-up is completed by Italian Marco Frigo, the team’s sole debutant; plus New Zealander George Bennett and Latvian Krists Neilands, two riders with extensive Tour experience who are set for their sixth start and chase wins in the more mountainous terrain.

Sports director Sam Bewley stressed the team’s strategy will not be limited to sprints. “We’ve got a good group for the race, mainly focused on Bini and the sprints. But the race has 21 stages. We want a purpose and an objective throughout the entire competition,” he said.

According to Bewley, riders like Bennett, Neilands and Frigo will be important to keep the team present in different race scenarios, whether in breakaways, mountain stages, or days suited to attacking moves.

The Barcelona Grand Départ adds an emotional layer for the whole team. Although the opening profiles do not look especially favorable for pure sprinters, the squad embraces the challenge with enthusiasm.

The race will open with a 19.6-kilometre team time trial, followed by two stages that could begin to shape the general classification. The clearest chances for the sprinters will arrive later, once the Tour crosses into France.

“It will be great to start in Barcelona. Honestly, I would have preferred a bunch sprint to open the race, but it will be fantastic to start the Tour in NSN’s home city,” Bewley noted.

The sports director acknowledged that the first stages are not a perfect fit for his squad’s characteristics, but insisted the team will race with ambition and pride from day one.

Girmay heads to the Tour after showing strong form at the recent Baloise Belgium Tour, where he took a stage win and added two more top-10 finishes.

His three victories in the first half of the season mark his best early-year return since 2022 and allow him to approach the Grande Boucle with confidence. “Everyone who knows me understands how special the Tour de France is to me, but I care more about creating new special moments than recalling past achievements,” the Eritrean said.

He also highlighted the collective work done over recent months to strengthen team confidence and sharpen race coordination.

“I know I’m in good shape, but it’s also great to know I have a very committed team around me. We’ve worked hard since the start of the season to find the best way to collaborate, build mutual trust and get the best possible results,” he explained.