"We keep dreaming big because we believe in ourselves" - Kern Pharma name Vuelta a Espana line-up as they announce lofty ambitions for Grand Tour
Cycling
Equipo Kern Pharma has finalised the eight-man roster for its third appearance at the Vuelta a España, which starts on Saturday, August 22nd and runs until September 13th. The Navarrese squad heads to the race with a blend of experience, youth and talent, plus riders capable of seizing chances on virtually every terrain.
Iñigo Elosegui, Marc Brustenga, Iván Cobo, Urko Berrade, Ibon Ruiz, Iván Ramiro Sosa, Diego Uriarte and Mats Wenzel are the eight riders who will defend Equipo Kern Pharma’s colours over the three weeks of racing. The goal is unchanged: be protagonists, hunt stage wins and keep the attacking spirit that made the team one of the standout animators of the 2024 edition.
One of the team’s headline names will be Urko Berrade, returning to La Vuelta two years after delivering one of the key moments of his career with his spectacular win in Maeztu in 2024.
The Navarrese rider will again look to the breakaways as a prime route to victory. His climbing output and diesel engine make him especially dangerous when the race turns selective. Berrade also arrives in top form, after a standout ride at the Spanish Championships and a notably consistent run in one-week races, with fourth in Sardegna, sixth in Azerbaijan and eighth in Occitanie.
“I’m starting with a different mindset, fully aware of the level here, but knowing that if I do things right I’ll be competitive again.”
Iván Cobo will tackle his first Grand Tour with the responsibility of being one of the team’s main cards on punchy finishes. The Cantabrian is a puncheur, comfortable in reduced groups and with a sharp finishing kick.
Cobo's 2026 season
His 2026 season has been especially positive after sprint wins at the GP Dodecanese and in Beiras. Now he will have the chance to translate that form to the highest level. “We arrive with zero doubts and convinced we can win at least one stage again.”
Iñigo Elosegui will also debut in a Grand Tour. The Basque rider will be a key piece thanks to his power on the flat and, above all, his seven years of professional experience.
His role will be road captain, guiding and supporting his teammates in each stage’s decisive moments. But Elosegui will also have licence to chase his own chances from the break when the race situation allows.
Ibon Ruiz approaches his second Grand Tour in full sporting maturity. The Vitorian opened his pro palmarès this year at the Mercan’Tour Classic and has maintained a very high level all season.
His results reflect that consistency: second in Occitanie, fifth at Tour du Jura and Sardegna, ninth in Turkey and 18th at the Itzulia. A complete rider able to perform on different terrains, Ruiz does not hide his ambitions ahead of La Vuelta. “I see myself capable of winning a stage at La Vuelta.”
Mats Wenzel, versatility for the breakaways
Another key asset for Equipo Kern Pharma will be Mats Wenzel, a rider whose versatility can be especially valuable across a three-week race.
The Luxembourger took his first pro victory at the Easter Classic and brings a very rounded skill set: strong on the flat, solid on medium climbs, a good turn of speed and sharp tactical reading.
In 2026 he was also second at the Fleche du Sud, third at the Luxembourg Championships and came very close to a second win at O Gran Camiño. In the bunch sprints, all eyes will be on Marc Brustenga. The Catalan is the team’s fast man and has the tools to compete in a top-level sprint.
In 2026 he has nine top-10s and already knows how to win, after triumphing at the Classic Velox Adélie de Vitré. His speed and bravery make him a genuine option when the stage ends in a mass finish.
Ibon Ruiz, ciclista español del Equipo Kern Pharma
In addition, his ability to position himself and his teammates will allow him to take on an important role even on days when he is not contesting the win.
A sharp nose for the breakaways is one of Diego Uriarte’s main traits. The Barañáin rider is a diesel rouleur who offers multiple tactical options and adapts to numerous scenarios.
His activity in the breaks during 2026 has been especially notable. He has accumulated more than 1,500 kilometres up the road, a tally that ranks him as the seventh rider in the world with the most breakaway kilometres this season.
In La Vuelta, that attacking instinct could make him one of the most active riders in the Navarre outfit.
The eighth man will be Iván Ramiro Sosa, one of the team’s key cards when the road tilts upward. The Colombian climber has rediscovered his best version after overcoming and undergoing surgery for his iliac artery injury.
His recent form invites optimism. Sosa took a win at the Tour of Turkey with a show of force on Kiran, added silver at the Colombian Championships, finished second at the Mercan'Tour Classic behind teammate Ibon Ruiz, and placed fifth at the Clàssica Terres de l'Ebre.
The memory of 2024 as inspiration
Equipo Kern Pharma will line up for its third La Vuelta after debuting in 2022. But it was in 2024 that the Navarre squad reached another level in the race, taking three stage wins and becoming one of the standout protagonists of the event.
Now, two years on, the team returns with a different lineup but the same ambition. The experience of Berrade, the form of Ruiz, Sosa and Cobo, the speed of Brustenga, and the attacking spirit of Uriarte and Wenzel shape an eight ready to chase glory again.
“We promise our maximum effort and commitment to the fans. We keep dreaming big because we believe in ourselves and in what we do, and La Vuelta a España is a great opportunity to show it to everyone,” says Juanjo Oroz, general manager of Equipo Kern Pharma.
Kern Pharma Vuelta a España 2026
| Rider | Nationality |
| Iñigo Elosegui | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Marc Brustenga | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Iván Cobo | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Urko Berrade | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Ibon Ruiz | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Iván Ramiro Sosa | 🇨🇴 Colombia |
| Diego Uriarte | 🇪🇸 Spain |
| Mats Wenzel | 🇱🇺 Luxembourg |
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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