Juanjo Oroz: “At Kern Pharma Team we prefer to work with a cyclist from a young age than to buy him”

What is the philosophy of Team Kern Pharma?

We are a Pro Team that has been in the peloton for four seasons now and we are clear about our goals, but we are very clear that we are a team that represents a company like Kern Pharma. We have to be a showcase for them, we should not only dedicate ourselves to winning races. Ultimately, we are an ideal platform to run a campaign as good as Oxicol, the team with the most heart.

Along with the ever-present quarry.

We are a team with a lot of heart and we were born from the quarry and we will not forget it, and we continue to make steps on a sporting and structural level, both of which have to move forward at the same time.

This year, did the invitation to La Vuelta come to you at a good time?

It comes to us at a good moment, of maturity, I feel that the team, the structure, the riders, is our perfect moment. Things are being done very well and very good runners are coming out and it is a cause for joy to be on a three week tour.

How important is it for a team like Kern Pharma to compete in La Vuelta?

You can quantify it at the level of visibility, which of course we do and it’s big, and at the level of the sport, at the end the cyclists need the motivation to go out and train every day, to bite the handlebars every day- day. Everything adds up. We are a team with heart and not only is a cyclist here for the money, they also need reasons to stay, to develop here and being in a Vuelta is a reason for joy, both for the riders and for structure itself.

What kind of brokers is Kern Pharma looking for?

We are looking for people, first, and we are very clear about this, because in the end the most important thing is this team. They are cyclists who will represent the team and the brands they wear on their chests and we are very clear that they represent us as people. We’re not just going to sign points or races, it’s the first priority, signing people. And then from there you structure the sports part. For example, this year the fast guys were signed or we are always based on the youth team. We prefer to work with a rider from a young age, develop a rider rather than buy one. This is our philosophy.

There is always the risk that it will fly away afterwards.

Every person who passes through Kern Pharma does not fly away from Kern Pharma, but rather carries a piece of Kern Pharma with them. Everyone who became part of this family did not leave him indifferent. And it’s not unusual for a team with our qualities to have the best teams in the world knocking on our door. For us it is a source of pride. We are very clear that the brokers here are those who believe in Kern Pharma and want to promote it.

What will be the team’s short-term goals?

Invest in the team. What brought us here was the team. No one person stands out above the rest, the only thing that should be noticed is the block, and if someone decides to leave then great, but we will have better tools. We know we are not a World Tour team.

They compete in the UCI ProTeam category.

We are very good in the category we belong to and above all we are investing to establish this project and give it meaning, in creating corridors and not buying them, in having more resources to continue to advance and more .

What does victory in La Vuelta represent?

If I told you that we do not have the goal of a victory in La Vuelta, I would be lying to you, we think that in a breakaway, that in this Vuelta there will be many opportunities, our duty is to improve throughout the year to reach La Vuelta and have a chance to win a stage. This is our clear objective at La Vuelta and that is why we are working.

Goal achieved.