End of an era: Kern Pharma ends seven year sponsorship of Spanish ProTeam after 2026

Spanish ProTeam Equipo Kern Pharma have announced that Kern Pharma will step down as a main sponsor of the team at the end of the 2026 season.

Kern Pharma is a Spanish pharmaceutical company that came on board when the team was formed in 2020, as Equipo Kern Pharma, and has remained as such since. The team made their debut at the Vuelta a España in 2022. 

2024 saw the team’s standout moment, winning three stages at the Vuelta a España, two with Pablo Castrillo and one with Urko Berrade, becoming the most successful invited team to the Spanish Grand Tour since 2012. 

For 2026, the team have been invited to races including Liège-Bastogne-Liège and once more, the Vuelta a España.

Reflecting on the partnership, President and CEO of Kern Pharma, Raúl Díaz-Varela, stated, “For Kern Pharma, sponsoring the cycling team has been much more than a sporting endeavour; it has been a statement of principles. Over these seven years, we have demonstrated our belief in young talent, consistent effort, and long-term projects.”

The team has produced plenty of riders who have made the step up to WorldTour level, including the likes of Roger Adrià, Castrillo, and Raúl García Pierna of Movistar, Igor Arrietta of UAE Team Emirates-XRG and Pau Miquel (Bahrain-Victorious).

The current stage of the project, consolidated and with another participation in La Vuelta, is ideal for other companies to get involved," added Diaz-Valera.

General manager Juanjo Oroz also expressed his gratitude for the long-term in the official statement 

“We are very grateful to Kern Pharma for their support and contribution during this stage of our project, which has allowed us to realize many of our dreams and inspire the public,” said Oroz. “We have experienced moments that we will cherish forever, and Kern Pharma will always hold a special place in our story.”

The team has scored one victory in 2026, with Iván Cobo at the Region on Dodecanese GP in Greece, and will now be in the process of securing a new sponsor for 2027 and beyond.