Team NSN and INEOS Grenadiers will both field UCI Continental development teams in 2026, signalling a fresh phase in the WorldTour arms race for young talent.
NSN’s new development squad grows directly out of the old Israel Cycling Academy structure, while INEOS’ Racing Academy is the British team’s first fully in‑house pathway in 15 years at the top level.
NSN’s programme will act as the feeder team to the rebranded NSN Cycling Team WorldTour outfit. Managed by Tim Elverson, the 20‑rider roster mixes 10 retained riders with 10 new signings, many of them national champions such as British junior cyclocross champion Oscar Amey and Australian junior time trial champion Max Goold.
Elverson frames the project in uncompromising terms, calling it “a real springboard to the WorldTour” and stressing that the group will “race as a team to win” while learning the craft needed to step up. Six riders from the development set‑up already raced with the WorldTeam in 2025, underlining how closely the two squads will be linked.
Geographically, NSN’s approach is aggressively global, with riders drawn from Europe, Oceania, North America and the Middle East. The squad includes Canadian junior road champion Ben Morin and Polish under‑23 road champion Dawid Lewandowski, alongside returning Israeli prospects.
Different routes to the WorldTour
INEOS Grenadiers’ Racing Academy, announced on 18 December, takes a more selective route. Registered in Britain, the 12‑rider Continental team is described by the organisation as the “cornerstone” of its performance pathway and will be tightly integrated with the WorldTour squad.
Director of racing Geraint Thomas (INEOS Grenadiers) says the focus is on building complete professionals rather than simply piling up results. “It is about race‑craft, understanding their bodies and managing their emotions, and not just hitting numbers. It is the full package,” he explains.
The inaugural Academy line‑up spans six nations, from British track world champion Josh Charlton to Eritrean sprinter Milkias Maekele and former Arkéa‑B&B Hôtels Continentale rider Nicolas Milesi, who will likely be expected to guide younger team‑mates.
For both NSN and INEOS, the success of these projects will be measured less by Continental wins than by how many riders graduate and stick at WorldTour level over the coming seasons.
