Dark clouds are gathering in the world of ProTeam formations ahead of the upcoming season: alongside Flanders Baloise, which in 2027 will lose the support of the Flemish government, and TotalEnergies, whose main sponsor has decided to channel all its efforts into the current Ineos, the Spanish Equipo Kern Pharma is also facing the fact that its sponsor has decided to end its commitment at the end of the season, after seven years of collaboration with the team.

Azcoro Sport, the sports company that manages the team, is already working to find a new main sponsor to replace Kern Pharma. The Navarrese company, based in Orkoien and owned by Juanjo Oroz and Iosune Murillo – an expert cycling coach and wife of the former rider and current manager – will not be able to count on the support of the Catalan pharmaceutical company, which had joined the team in 2020.

In fact, the press release issued by Team Kern Pharma suggests that the news had been known internally for several months. It reads: «Since the last renewal of the sponsorship agreement, Kern Pharma and Azcoro Sport have worked in perfect harmony to facilitate a smooth and successful transition for all parties involved, now that this chapter is closing».

The Kern Pharma structure includes a professional team, an elite team and an Under 23 team, the Finisher Team, a youth academy from which three-quarters of the Navarrese professional team comes. The academy has produced riders such as Raúl García Pierna, Pablo Castrillo, Roger Adrià (Movistar Team) and Pau Miquel (Bahrain Victorious), as well as Urko Berrade, winner of the Izki stage two years ago at the Vuelta, and Diego Uriarte, winner of a stage at the 2025 Vuelta a Andalucía.

Juanjo Oroz's company has not yet revealed the identity of its new sponsor, although the tone chosen for the announcement suggests that the Iberian manager already has a solution ready.