Biniam Girmay indifferent about past NSN Cycling: "I'm not a politician"
Biniam Girmay secured his first victory since 2024 at the Tour of Valencia. He did this representing NSN Cycling, the successor to Israel-Premier Tech. Last year, the Israeli identity of that team sparked intense protests, but Girmay remains indifferent to the team's past, he revealed in an interview with Marca.
The Israeli identity of Israel-Premier Tech caused controversy last year due to the war in Gaza. Especially during the Vuelta a España, there were major protests. The team then decided to make significant changes: it distanced itself from the Israeli identity, adopted a new name, and co-owner Sylvan Adams, who had previously described himself as an ‘ambassador of Israel,’ stepped back from daily management.
‘I’m not a politician’
During that time, Girmay was already linked with a transfer to the team, which had since been renamed NSN (Never Say Never). The Eritrean indeed signed a contract and debuted for the team in Valencia. The Marca interviewer asked him whether, after his first months with the formation, he felt that the Israeli identity had completely disappeared from NSN.
"To be honest, I don’t care," Girmay replied to that question. "The only thing that matters to me is the people in the team and the family-like atmosphere we have. I am here to race, I’m not a politician. The name is the name, but we just want to compete. We have ambition, and I’m here to win."
Girmay, who raced last season for Intermarché-Wanty, is very positive about his new team. "It’s completely different here. We are a team with many nationalities. I love this atmosphere. It’s a very organized squad, and everything is well planned for each individual rider. In terms of riders and staff, there is more quality at NSN. Plus, I have great teammates."
Spring classics and the Tour
Regarding his ambitions for 2026, Girmay stated that the spring classics and—above all—the Tour de France are his main targets. Two years ago, he won the green jersey in the Tour, but he finds it ‘hard to say’ whether he will contest the points classification again in the upcoming edition. He seems to be focusing mainly on stage wins. "But a stage win already earns 50 points, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to fight for it."
