Israeli-Founded NSN Team Gets Calmer Tour Build-Up

Times of Israel carried an AP report at 18:42 IDT that the Israeli-founded cycling team formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech is entering the Tour de France build-up as NSN Cycling Team with a calmer reception in Barcelona after last year's anti-Israel disruptions. NSN's roster release says Biniam Girmay will lead its stage-win search when the Tour starts July 4 in Barcelona, and its launch page says the team races under a Swiss license with Barcelona and Girona roots. AP, CyclingNews and CyclingWeekly trace the rebrand to NSN/Stoneweg control after protest pressure. Boycotts should not erase Israel's sporting contribution; Israeli initiative helped build a team still competing at cycling's top table.