Spanish cycling team Kern Pharma is searching for a main sponsor for next season as team manager Juanjo Oroz fights to keep the squad alive.
Reporting from Roquetes during the fifth stage of the Vuelta a Espana, Oroz acknowledged that while a deal is not confirmed, the answer remains no for now.
The Spanish professional road cycling squad, based in Navarra, is seeking financial backing to maintain its structure for the upcoming 2027 season. Kern Pharma competes at the UCI ProTeam level, the second tier of international professional cycling.
Victories on the road
The sponsorship search comes despite strong competitive performances on the road. Kern Pharma emerged as one of the standout teams of the 2024 Vuelta a Espana, winning three stages during the Grand Tour.
Spanish rider Pablo Castrillo claimed two stage victories for the team during that race, while teammate Urko Berrade secured a third stage win.
During the current 2026 season, Kern Pharma has accumulated six race victories and seven second-place finishes. Their success this year includes another stage win at the Vuelta a Espana alongside a victory at the Spanish National Championships.
Despite these achievements, Oroz noted that sporting success has not been enough to guarantee team survival in a challenging financial landscape for modern professional cycling.
Rider development philosophy
Oroz, a former Spanish professional cyclist who raced for top teams before retiring in 2015 to take over management of the team, emphasized that Kern Pharma operates on a long-term developmental model.
He explained that the team believes in winning through education and rider development rather than purchasing established talent. Oroz stated that Kern Pharma focuses on building stars rather than buying them, adding that winning a stage with a rider who shares no alignment or connection with the team would hold no value for them.
Addressing the broader trends in sport and business, Oroz observed that modern society and corporate sponsors increasingly demand immediate returns. In contrast, he argued that Kern Pharma's core value lies in giving young riders time to mature.
He stressed that while young cyclists are often given substantial money and equipment today, patience remains the rarest asset. Oroz said that offering time instead of demanding immediate results allows extraordinary achievements to happen, calling this approach the team's greatest calling card and highest value.
Contract freedom for riders
Management had initially hoped to resolve the team's financial future prior to the start of the Vuelta a Espana. However, unable to guarantee contract extensions for 2027, Oroz made the decision to release his riders and technical staff to negotiate with rival teams.
Oroz revealed that he communicated the reality of the situation to the entire squad in June, informing them directly that he could not provide contract offers for 2027.
He explained that providing his staff and cyclists with an exit option was necessary for fairness. While he considers the team project vital and wants it to continue, Oroz stressed that the organisation cannot stand in the way of individual careers. Acting with complete honesty helped him handle the pressure while remaining fully focused on daily efforts to secure the team's future.
Future options and survival
Oroz is currently exploring several alternative operational models to preserve the team structure, including possibilities outside elite-tier professional racing. He maintained an optimistic outlook, remarking that dreams do not carry an expiration date or deadline.
While acknowledging that the mathematical probability of finding a sponsor decreases with every passing day on the calendar, Oroz refused to declare that hope was lost. He noted that securing a commitment takes only a single second, meaning the squad remains just one second away from ensuring its continuity.
