OFFICIAL: XDS Astana sweep up former Vuelta stage winner on two-year deal after seven seasons with former team
Cycling
Urko Berrade will compete in the WorldTour for the next two seasons. The 28-year-old rider from Navarre has agreed to join XDS Astana from 2027, with his contract running through the end of 2028. The Spaniard will take on a new challenge in his professional career after establishing himself as one of Spain’s most consistent riders last season.
The signing follows an impressive 2026, in which Berrade produced strong results during his seven seasons with Kern Pharma. Highlights included second place on a stage of the Vuelta a España, third in the Spanish National Road Race Championships and third at the Clàssica Terres de l'Ebre. His performances have caught the eye of a team looking to strengthen its options for the coming seasons.
The Navarrese rider also impressed in several stage races. He finished fourth overall at the Giro di Sardegna, sixth at the Baku-Khankendi Azerbaijan Cycling Tour and eighth at the Tour de l'Occitanie. Those results underline his consistency and climbing ability, qualities that convinced the Kazakh team’s management.
Berrade also has two particularly notable victories to his name. In 2024, he claimed his first Grand Tour stage win at the Vuelta a España, then won the Clàssica Camp de Morvedre in 2025. Now, after several seasons as a professional, he will have the chance to take the next step and regularly test himself against the world’s best teams.
🇪🇸 NEW RIDER: Urko Berrade to join XDS Astana Team 📰👉 https://t.co/NjMQXttKq2 #XDSAstanaTeam 📷 @SprintCycling https://t.co/3oIT9XhpDp
— XDS Astana Team (@XDSAstanaTeam) November 2, 2026
Berrade delighted to make WorldTour step-up
The rider said he was delighted to join a team competing at the highest international level. “I’m very happy to take the next step and join the WorldTour with a team like XDS Astana. It’s a huge opportunity, and I want to thank the team management for giving me this chance. I’ll do everything I can to repay their confidence with my results,” Berrade said in comments released by the team.
The Spaniard also outlined his priorities for his first season with the Kazakh team. He aims to gain experience, learn from his new teammates, coaches and sports directors, and continue to improve.
“I’m ready to give everything to help the team wherever needed and do all I can to achieve our goals. Of course, I’ll also try to make the most of any opportunity to show what I can do,” he added.
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Vinokourov believes in his climbing potential
XDS Astana general manager Alexandr Vinokurov said the team had been following the Navarrese rider’s progress for some time. He singled out Berrade’s performances throughout the season and his ride at the Vuelta a España, where he came close to claiming the second stage victory of his career at the Spanish Grand Tour.
“He’s a strong climber who can help us fill one of the positions available in the team. We still need to assess his full potential and see how he performs in different roles, but I believe he has everything it takes to become a solid WorldTour professional,” Vinokurov said.
From 2027, Berrade will take on the biggest challenge of his career, with two seasons to prove himself at the sport’s highest level.

Javier RampeCycling Journalist
Javier Rampe is a sports analyst with more than 15 years of experience. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome and a Diploma in Business Studies from the University of Cádiz. Despite coming from an academic background not particularly associated with cycling, his passion for both cycling and journalism was instilled in him from an early age. He grew up following Miguel Indurain and José María “El Chava” Jiménez. An admirer of Michael Robinson’s communication style and journalistic approach, he was inspired to pursue a degree in Journalism at the University of Buenos Aires, which he is currently completing.
He has always maintained close ties with the worlds of sport and culture, contributing from a young age to sports blogs and film and music review websites. His work has appeared in media outlets such as Cope, RAI, and Radio Con Vos. He is also the founder of the cycling-focused podcast El Contraanálisis and the football interview channel Días De Fútbol, dedicated to conversations with professional footballers.
In addition to his work at Ciclismoaldia, Javier has interviewed some of the most influential figures in modern cycling, including Alejandro Valverde and Tadej Pogačar, as well as key voices in anti-doping policy such as Alberto Yelmo, David Varillas, and Marcelo Milano. Marcos Maynar, in relation to the ‘Operación Ílex’ case, is also among the personalities he has interviewed. He enjoys conducting in-depth analysis of the cycling ecosystem and has attended major events such as Strade Bianche, the Vuelta a Andalucía, and Itzulia, as well as numerous national cyclo-cross races.
His background in economics, combined with extensive experience in marketing and corporate communications, drives his continuous study of positioning strategies and ensures that he always keeps his focus on crafting compelling and evocative headlines.
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