Savva Novikov is Equipo Kern Pharma’s sixth signing for the 2021 season. The Russian youngster joins former ice hockey player Vojtěch Řepa, Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Diego López Fuentes and under-23 Spanish riders Jordi López, Raúl García Pierna and Carlos García Pierna on the roster of the new Spanish ProTeam.
It was two years ago that Savva Novikov (1999, Tula) first caught the eye of Manolo Azcona and Juanjo Oroz, President and Team Manager of Equipo Kern Pharma. Back in February 2018, the Russian rider made his debut in the U23 category at Circuito Guadiana, an event of the Copa de España, the most prestigious competition for amateur cyclists in Spain. He won that day beating Urko Berrade, then rider for Equipo Kern Pharma’s feeder team, Equipo Lizarte. Later in the year, he won the Volta a la Província de València by being faster on a 22-kilometre time-trial than Berrade, José Félix Parra and Roger Adrià, all of them currently racing for Equipo Kern Pharma.
“That was the time Manolo Azcona and Juanjo Oroz first asked me to join their team,” recalls Savva Novikov. “But unfortunately I had already agreed to turn pro with Lokosphinx the following season.”
With the Russian Continental outfit, on which ranks he had developed his talent since age 12, Savva Novikov delivered marquee results such as victories on the queen stages of the Turul Romainei and the Tour of Iran that landed him a contract with CCC Development Team, feeder squad to UCI WorldTeam CCC Team. On a strange season due to the global health crisis, Novikov still netted a silver medial in the Omnium event of the Russian National Track Cycling Championships.
“Savva Novikov comes across to us as a brave and resilient cyclist,” says Equipo Kern Pharma’s Team Manager, Juanjo Oroz. “We have followed his tracks for a couple of seasons already. This is the right time for him to join our team: he is young, he is developing and he is yet to prove himself in the world's best races.”
“We want him to fit in Equipo Kern Pharma’s team environment. We would like him to acquire our values and our approach to cycling and life. In the future, we think he can become an all-rounder able to contend for the GC in stage races.”
“I’m really happy I’m joining Equipo Kern Pharma,” says Savva Novikov. “This is the ideal step for my future as a rider, as it will be a ProTeam in 2021 and it will therefore enable me to have a nice racing schedule.”
“Right now I would define myself as a climber with an all-rounder talent. I want to develop into a GC rider, like Chris Froome or Alberto Contador, and fight for victory in the Grand Tours. I’m looking forward to take part in stage races such as Volta a Catalunya, Vuelta al País Vasco… or La Vuelta!”
