Kern Pharma will unfortunately disappear at the end of the current season, and many of its riders are finding places in the WorldTour. It was clear that would be the case for Urko Berrade, who, despite being linked with Movistar Team, now appears set to end up at XDS Astana Team.
The cycling transfer market continues to move in the closing weeks of the season and, according to Marca, the 28-year-old rider from Pamplona will race for the Kazakh team for the next two seasons. His victory at the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, his strongest result.
Urko Berrade, a brave climber aiming to keep winning
Urko Berrade has put together one of the most complete seasons of his professional career in 2026. The Navarrese rider has shown consistency across races of different characteristics, standing out particularly in the mountains and confirming that he has the tools to fight for victories when opportunities arise. His courage, endurance and attacking nature make him a dangerous rider for his rivals, especially on the most demanding days.
Throughout 2026, Berrade has accumulated a number of strong results. He was 10th at the Clàssica Camp de Morvedre, fourth overall at the Giro di Sardegna and third at the Clàssica Terres de l'Ebre. He also finished 13th at the Vuelta a Asturias, sixth at the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Race and eighth in Occitanie, showing notable consistency across the calendar.
The Spanish National Championships also brought good news for the Navarrese rider. Berrade finished seventh in the time trial and claimed an impressive third place in the road race, a result that underlined his ability to compete at a high level across different disciplines.
Urko Berrade in action
A leading figure in the mountains at the Vuelta a España
One of the highlights of his season came at the 2026 Vuelta a España. Berrade finished 19th overall, but his performances in the mountain stages made it clear that he was capable of aiming for much more than simply a solid position in the general classification. The Navarrese rider recorded a second place, a fourth and a fifth across different stages, results that reflected his ability to get involved in the fight for stage victories.
His second-place finish on a stage of this year's Vuelta was particularly significant, as it once again brought him very close to victory in one of the biggest races on the calendar. Those performances further strengthen his reputation as a rider who is not content merely to survive the hardest stages, but instead looks to use his characteristics to surprise his rivals.
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A career featuring several notable results
Berrade's successes in 2026 add to other important results he had already achieved. In 2024, he finished fourth overall at the Vuelta a Burgos, a performance that confirmed his potential in stage races. He also took a stage victory at that year's Vuelta a España, one of the biggest achievements of his professional career.
He had already shown his ability to compete for strong general classification positions in 2021, finishing fifth at both the Tour du Limousin and the CRO Race. In addition, at the 2026 Giro di Sardegna, he took third place on the opening stage before finishing the race fourth overall.
Urko Berrade is a brave, combative climber who knows how to make the most of his opportunities. His 2026 season shows that he can fight for strong results across a range of races and that he is ready to continue chasing victories. With his performances at the Vuelta a España as a reference point, the Navarrese rider has every reason to approach his next challenges with ambition and the belief that further wins can come his way.
Juan LarraCycling Journalist
Juan Larra is a writer for Cyclinguptodate and editor-in-chief of Ciclismoaldia, where he has played a central role since its inception. Under his leadership, the website has become a trusted source for professional cycling coverage, offering in-depth analysis, news, and feature stories.
A sports journalist with over 20 years of experience, Juan earned his degree in Journalism from the University of Seville in 2007. He began his career covering a wide range of sports—including football, basketball, Formula 1, MotoGP, tennis, and cycling—for platforms such as the official La Liga app, Vodafone and Movistar websites, NBA Blogdebasket, and Cadena Cope, honing his skills in writing and editorial management.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Juan contributes to Cyclinguptodate and serves as editor-in-chief for the tennis-focused site Tenisaldia. Throughout his career, he has conducted exclusive interviews with cyclists and sports figures, provided detailed analysis of competitions ranging from local Spanish races to major international events, and acted as a special correspondent at prestigious races including Paris-Roubaix, the Tour de France, and the Vuelta a España.
Juan’s combination of experience, expertise, and direct access to athletes has established him—and the platforms he leads—as authoritative voices in professional cycling.
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leedorney11-10-2026 - Yes, he has won many races... second class races. He isn't the real deal... Seixas is the real deal. Capish?PogiSloFans11-10-2026
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- Absolutely not. The guy has finished so many races 2nd to Pogi so absolutely not a shocker that when Pogi isn't there he wins a fewmobk11-10-2026
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