Carapaz and NSN Cycling Team confirm three-year deal that leaves a void at EF and will reshape grand tour racing in 2027.
(Photo: Gruber Images)
Updated October 16, 2026 09:55AM
Richard Carapaz has split from EF Education-EasyPost to join NSN Cycling Team on a three-year deal that will see him toward retirement.
The bombshell transfer was confirmed Friday afternoon after a wave of speculation following recent reports by Wielerflits.
It’s a stunning move from Carapaz.
The 33-year-old had an ongoing contract with the American EF Education-EasyPost team and had enjoyed a wildly successful 2026 season.
He finished top-10 at both the Tour de France and Vuelta a España, and claimed the Tour de France KoM jersey for a second time.
According to Wielerflits, EF Education-EasyPost is suffering a budget pinch going into 2027. The Ecuadorian would have been one of the highest-paid riders on the roster of Jonathan Vaughters’ team.
Carapaz’s exit will be hard felt at EF. He’s been the center of the squad’s ambitions for the past four seasons.
Beyond that, the U.S. team was already reeling from a rider exodus. Five others, including classics talent Kasper Asgreen, have recently confirmed they’re leaving this winter. Asgreen also joins NSN Cycling Team in 2027.
Meanwhile, EF Education-EasyPost has confirmed only one incoming transfer for 2027. Young American Gavin Sherry steps up from the EF-Aevolo devo team.
“Gracias, Richie. Por todo,” EF wrote in a montage video of Carapaz’s greatest hits it posted to Instagram.
Carapaz brings grand tour option to budding NSN Cycling Team
NSN Cycling Team heralded Carapaz’s arrival Friday as “a major statement that will strengthen the roster and the team’s grand tour and stage race ambitions.”
The former Giro d’Italia winner and Olympic champion will join Santiago Buitrago and Lennert Van Eetvelt in a new climbing division of the Swiss-registered squad.
Having only formed out of the ashes of Israel Premier-Tech at the start of 2026, NSN was focused on sprints with Biniam Girmay and Ethan Vernon in its debut season.
“For me, it’s a tremendous opportunity as a rider to be part of this project and, above all, to be one of the team’s leaders,” Carapaz said Friday.
“I find the NSN project really interesting. After our first conversations, I was convinced this would be the right place for me. I’m a rider who has achieved great results throughout my career, many of which were in the grand tours, and that fits very well with what NSN was looking for,” Carapaz continued.
“The team has big ambitions to keep growing and already in my conversations with the performance team, it was clear we share the same desire to keep improving and achieve big things together.”