"Everyone is giving their all in this situation" - Kern Pharma apply for 2027 UCI ProTeam license, but remain without a title sponsor
Cycling
The Spanish ProTeam Equipo Kern Pharma have submitted the necessary paperwork to register as a UCI ProTeam also in 2027, however the team's future remains unclear without a title sponsor on-board for next period. The team's general manager Juan José Oroz can still lean back on long-time partners - bike supplier Giant and Etxeondo clothing - but still lacks the necessary funds to secure Professional license at the moment.
Launched in 2020, the Spanish team based in Navarra quickly ascended the UCI ranks to promote to Pro-level in 2021, and make a Grand Tour debut at Vuelta a Espana one year later.
Since then, they've been a consistent force at the Professional scene and have produced six WorldTour riders - Raúl García Pierna, Roger Adria, Igor Arrieta, Pablo Castrillo, Pau Miquel and Haimar Etxeberria - in coordination with their amateur development structure.
Part of their project is also the "Grassroots" programme where Kern Pharma invites riders from across the world (especially east Asia) to try out for the Spanish team. Taiwanese Kern Pharma rider Yen Yi Ho is product of this Giant-backed iniciative.
"We continue to believe that this project of training cyclists from the grassroots, in keeping with our philosophy, makes sense," Oroz told Diario de Navarra. "Just look at the riders we have and those who have been here. With them, we could build a formidable team."
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Uncertain future
Despite its relative success (currently 27th in the UCI ranking - enough to qualify for Vuelta wildcard also in 2027), the Spanish team finds itself in a precarious situation. Their title sponsor Kern Pharma will cease to support the project at the end of this year. And manager Oroz admits that talks to find a replacement have not gone as smooth as he'd have hoped.
That is why back in June, the team gave all its riders (both those with expiring contracts and those with agreements valid for the next few years) the freedom to look for a new team for 2027:
"We offered them this opportunity because it seemed like the most honest position. We made things clear from the start, and everyone's reaction has been very positive. Some have looked for a new team, while others have decided to stay. And I'm proud of everyone, because everyone is giving their all in this situation, and it's not easy at all."
Oroz hopes to have positive news before the start of the next Vuelta a España (August 22 - September 13). However he admits there is some chance that is search may not yield the keen success.
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If the rescue would not materialize, Oroz is ready to temporarily continue the project at a smaller scale - at Continental level, if necessary. He is confident he'll be able to gather resources to guarantee at least that.
"If we were to set up a Continental team, it would be like starting over, but we would be willing to do it because we believe in this idea. When Adriá, Arrieta, Castrillo, … left, people thought it would be difficult to get back to that level. But if there's one thing we don't lack, it's the cyclists in our academy. It wouldn't be a problem."
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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