Richard Carapaz will become an NSN Cycling Team rider on January 1, 2027. Announced on October 16, 2026, the agreement covers three seasons and runs through the end of 2029. The news therefore does not signal an immediate transfer: the Ecuadorian remains associated with EF Education-EasyPost during 2026.
When Carapaz joins NSN
NSN’s future riders page lists Carapaz as joining the roster on January 1, 2027. The team classifies him as a general classification rider, consistent with the role planned for him in Grand Tours.
The official signing announcement says the deal runs from 2027 through 2029. That amounts to three planned seasons. Neither financial terms nor an individual race schedule for the rider have been disclosed.
His status in the 2026 season
Until the new contract takes effect, Carapaz remains linked to EF Education-EasyPost. The profile published by EF Pro Cycling identifies 2026 as his fourth season with the team and continues to list him on its roster.
This distinction between the dates addresses the main potential confusion surrounding the announcement: NSN has confirmed a signing in advance for 2027, not a mid-2026 move. Any subsequent change should be checked on the teams’ official pages.
The planned sporting role
NSN intends to make Carapaz a central figure in its Grand Tour and stage-race ambitions. General manager Kjell Carlström emphasized the Ecuadorian’s experience and leadership, including his potential value as an example for younger riders. Carapaz said the opportunity to be one of the team’s leaders was an important part of his decision.
The record cited by the teams helps explain the choice: he won the 2019 Giro d’Italia, earned the road-race gold medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and has finished on the podium at all three Grand Tours. NSN also credits him with 26 wins across a ten-year career.
That defines a role, but it does not guarantee selection, a result or sole leadership in every race. The team has not yet announced which Grand Tours he will ride in 2027.
Who NSN Cycling Team is
NSN’s official overview describes a Spanish-Swiss WorldTour team competing at the highest level of professional cycling. It races under the Swiss flag and operates from Spain. The project combines sports and entertainment company NSN, co-founded by Andrés Iniesta, with Swiss investment group Stoneweg.
Carapaz is not the only rider already named for 2027. The future roster also includes Santiago Buitrago, Lennert Van Eetvelt, Artem Shmidt, Cedric Beullens and Jens Verbrugghe. The signing announcement adds current teammate Kasper Asgreen to Carapaz’s future roster. The group provides context for the team’s sporting ambition, but does not establish the hierarchy for individual races.
What is confirmed — and what remains open
The January 1, 2027 start, the agreement through 2029 and the intention to use Carapaz as a Grand Tour leader are confirmed. It is also clear that the announcement does not change his team for 2026.
As of October 16, the official sources provide no decision about the 2027 Giro, Tour or Vuelta, no classification targets, no assignments for specific stages and no projected results. Those choices should emerge closer to the season and need to be verified through official channels.
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Sources and credits
- kallerna — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hyperba21 — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Geof Sheppard — CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hoebele — CC BY-SA 4.0
- NSN Cycling Team — anúncio oficial da contratação de Richard Carapaz
- EF Pro Cycling — perfil oficial de Richard Carapaz
- NSN Cycling Team — perfil institucional da equipe
- NSN Cycling Team — elenco atual e futuros corredores