Kern Pharma looks to replace Pablo Castrillo with a promising talent from Lidl-Trek's DT

After its historic Vuelta a Espana 2024, Kern Pharma must now look forward with excitement, but with the obligatory task of replacing in the Cycling Market the departure of Pablo Castrillo for the 2025 season.

To this end, the pharmaceutical team has secured the signing of one of cycling's great talents of the future. It is now official that Kern Pharma has signed Mats Wenzel from Luxembourg.

Who is Mats Wenzel?

Mats Wenzel is a 21-year-old cyclist with great potential for one-day victories. His rider profile is totally explosive, with the ability to sprint and excel on short, steep climbs. He finished 9th overall in the Tour de l'Avenir, 4th in the recent U23 European Championships, and his biggest result came in the Tour de Luxembourg 2023, where he won the mountains classification;

"He's a great rider, someone very noble who is sure to do a great job at Kern Pharma. He's going to a great team. I'm sure he can succeed there, that they will take good care of him. And it's not out of the question that he could come back here in the future," says Markel Irizar, from the Lidl-Trek development team.

It should be remembered that in addition to Pablo Castrillo, Urko Berrade will also leave Kern Pharma. Mats Wenzel will be one of the most important new names in a team that has won the affection of all the fans, and that is undoubtedly growing by leaps and bounds. The Luxembourger has everything to shine, and the Spanish team everything so that he can make the jump to the World Tour in the future as a very established rider.

Presentation of the Luxembourger

"I have chosen the Equipo Kern Pharma because I consider it a perfect project for the development of young riders and also because of the great calendar that I can get to race," said the rider after his presentation. "I want to develop as a cyclist and go to the races motivated and do well. It will be my first season as a pro and I'm looking forward to it."

Juanjo Oroz, general manager of Kern Pharma, commented the following: "Mats Wenzel has characteristics that we like, besides being very good, he is brave, shows ambition and last year he had a lot of presence in the breakaways, something to highlight in such a young kid."