Take2 weeks ago
Gimeno's maiden win shadowed by Kern Pharma's sponsor void
Equipo Kern Pharma's main sponsor is withdrawing at the end of 2026, and no replacement has been found. Nil Gimeno Ferrer said as much minutes after taking his maiden pro win on stage 7: «We are a family, and it's really sad that the team don't have any sponsor now, and we are doing everything we can to achieve that.» That makes stage 7 the rare win that doubles as a warning — Le Tour de Langkawi 2026 could be Equipo Kern Pharma's last tour.
Kern Pharma announced the end of its seven-year backing back in March 2026, and by September no new title sponsor had emerged despite talks on multiple fronts. The team has applied for its 2027 UCI ProTeam license but remains without a title sponsor as of October 2026. Gimeno Ferrer turned professional with the team in October 2024 and had already shown he belonged with a fourth place on stage 4 before his sprint win out of the four-rider break in Batu Pahat. A result like this is supposed to be the start of something — for Equipo Kern Pharma right now, it may just as easily be the end of it.
Sources
Nil Gimeno snares first professional win at stage 7 of Le Tour de Langkawi to Batu Pahat'We are a family, and it's really sad'"Everyone is giving their all in this situation" - Kern Pharma apply for 2027 UCI ProTeam license, but remain without a title sponsorEnd of an era: Kern Pharma ends seven year sponsorship of Spanish ProTeam after 2026'You've got that pressure in your head' - Kern Pharma hit final days of Vuelta a España in last-ditch battle to continue in 2027
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