Kern Pharma disappears from peloton at the end of this season

Kern Pharma will end its spell as title sponsor of the cycling team at the close of the current season, drawing a line under seven years of continuous backing for the project. The pharmaceutical company thus closes a cycle defined by the squad’s sporting growth, its commitment to young talent, and the alignment between the values of sport and health.

The Equipo Kern Pharma project launched in 2020 with the creation of a new Spanish team in the UCI Continental category. The Spanish outfit quickly moved up the ranks and just two years later, Kern Pharma debuted at Vuelta a Espana.

From day one, the initiative focused on developing young riders nurtured by the Asociación Deportiva Galibier, the foundation on which the sporting structure has been built. Throughout this period, Kern Pharma’s support remained firm and steadily increased, providing stability and resources to the team over seven seasons.

Since its inception, Equipo Kern Pharma has collected a series of successes, although the standout moment arrived at the Vuelta a España 2024. In that edition, the squad was one of the race’s protagonists despite entering as a wildcard. The team won three stages and became the invited outfit with the most victories in the Spanish Grand Tour since 2012.

Since the last renewal of the sponsorship agreement, Kern Pharma and Azcoro Sport have worked in close coordination to ensure an orderly transition at the end of this phase, aiming to keep the project developing with new opportunities.

"For Kern Pharma, sponsoring the cycling team has been much more than a sporting gamble; it has been a statement of principles. Over these seven years, we have shown that we believe in young talent, in constant effort, and in projects built for the long term. Now is the time to focus our resources on other commercial activities that better fit our business’s current needs. With the project now consolidated and set for another participation in La Vuelta, this is an ideal moment for other companies to get involved," explained Raúl Díaz-Varela, president and CEO of Kern Pharma.

The executive also stressed that the company’s link with sport will continue through other initiatives. "Our commitment to sport and health doesn’t end here. Through our Finisher® brand, we will continue to support athletes’ training and development, reaffirming our dedication to health and performance," he added.

The sporting structure also wished to thank the company for its backing during this period. "We are very grateful to Kern Pharma for their support and contribution in this phase of our project, which has allowed many of our dreams to come true and inspired the public. We have lived moments we will keep in our hearts for life, and Kern Pharma will always hold a very special place in our history. While everything we achieved together on the road stands out, we would like to emphasise the professionalism with which we worked together and the immense dedication both parties showed in protecting each other’s interests and needs," said Juanjo Oroz, co-owner of Azcoro Sport.