Urko Berrade joins Astana for the next two seasons

Urko Berrade has completed his move to Astana for the next two seasons. He will make the step up to the WorldTour after several seasons of progress with Kern Pharma, following a LaVuelta that accelerated talks with the Kazakh team.

The discussions had already made Astana the closest destination for the rider on September 15. LaVuelta proved a major showcase for Berrade: he had won a stage there in 2024, and his performances this season confirmed his progress. Results on two mountain stages also strengthened his standing: he finished fourth at Peñas Blancas, then fifth at Collado del Alguacil.

The transfer marks another step in the rider’s career, after he established himself as one of Kern Pharma’s leading performers. Astana is bringing in a cyclist whose best displays in the final week of LaVuelta helped raise his value on the market. Berrade had also shown resilience and consistency in demanding races, qualities that opened up several options before he settled on Astana.