Ahead of the start of this year’s Tour de France, Biniam Girmay and NSN co-founder Andrés Iniesta met with the media in Barcelona on Thursday evening.
Biniam and local icon Iniesta were speaking at the team’s pre-race press conference, which took place at the ME Hotel in the city.
Biniam Girmay
“I’m super happy and super motivated to start here in Barcelona, to go for stage wins, and chase the green jersey. This has been our main goal since the beginning of this season.
“Actually, there’s not much of a big difference in myself, but I have stronger teammates and a stronger lead-out compared to last year. That’s why my results are better than in 2025. We’ve worked so hard for this event, and we want to achieve what we’ve planned.
“I’ve had enough preparation for this year’s race, especially compared to previous years. We also have everybody more or less in the same shape – that also makes a big difference because, as a team, we need to have everybody at the same level. So I think I would mention that because we already saw this the last couple of days we raced together.
“If you see my best sprint performances, they were in the 2024 Tour, and we had two super hard and hot stages to start in Italy. That’s harder for the others – this is potentially also a benefit for me this year, as I can survive the heat better. We have hot and hard stages to begin after the TTT.”
Andrés Iniesta
“I think it’s special for everyone because it’s Barcelona and because we’re all involved in this wonderful project. There’s been an incredible amount of work, especially from the team itself and everyone involved behind the scenes, and we’re all really excited and looking forward to getting started. As Bini said, what we’re really hoping for is to celebrate a stage win together. That would be something very special. Or, of course, seeing Bini win the green jersey. So I wish the whole team the very best of luck.
“As a fan, the Tour de France is the biggest and most spectacular event, so having the opportunity to be part of it is truly amazing. I’m part of a company that was founded in 2018, with an incredible group of people working across many different areas. In the beginning, our focus was mainly on football, but at the end of the day, we’re all passionate about sport.
“Some time ago, we had the opportunity to become involved in this project. As I mentioned a few months ago, cycling has always meant something special to me. I grew up watching the Tour de France during the summers, especially in the era of [Miguel] Induráin. So being part of this project through my company, and having the chance to work alongside such outstanding professionals, is both a privilege and a great opportunity to keep learning.
“I think anyone who is involved in cycling and understands how a professional cycling team operates can appreciate the incredible attention to detail, the professionalism, and the way everyone works together. It’s truly fascinating. I love teamwork, and if there’s one sport that really embodies the value of teamwork, it’s cycling. That’s what makes this project so special, and I hope it continues for many years to come.
“Everyone is working incredibly hard to make it happen, and of course, the main protagonists, the riders, have our full support so they can be in the best possible condition and achieve their goals.
“I think both football and cycling are very similar, but I would say cycling is even tougher. Everything has to be precise down to the smallest detail, and sometimes just a few seconds can make all the difference. I was really impressed when I attended the Volta a Catalunya. I spent time with the team on the bus and saw how they prepare for every stage of the race. What impressed me the most was their preparation, the way every rider has a clearly defined role, how they plan for everything that could happen during a stage, and the work they do together with the sports directors. Everything is planned down to the smallest detail.
“In cycling, even a single second can completely change the outcome of a race. That’s why, once you get to see the sport from the inside, it’s absolutely fascinating. From the outside, you mostly see the riders, but you don’t see all the strategy and hard work that goes on behind the scenes. That’s what surprised me the most.
“We’ve tried to create values for our team. I think fans can love our team because we are trying to make something special.”