The recruitment of international young talent goes on at Equipo Kern Pharma. After Russia’s Savva Novikov and Czech Republic’s Vojtech Repa, the new Spanish UCI ProTeam has signed Dutch prospect Danny van der Tuuk.
Danny van der Tuuk (1999, Assen) joins Equipo Kern Pharma from Dutch development team Metec – TKH Continental Cycling Team, where he has raced for the last three seasons. He is no stranger to Spain, though. “My family uses to spend Christmas in the Canary Islands,” he explains. “I’ve also raced in Spain as a junior.”
Back in 2017, Danny van der Tuuk did indeed win a race appertaining to Trofeo Cabedo, one of the most prestigious competitions for junior cyclists in Spain. His racing pedigree has also been shown in international events where he has participated as a member of the Dutch national team.
“We like bringing international youth talent to our team because it enables us to enhance the perspective of our program,” explains Equipo Kern Pharma’s Team Manager, Juanjo Oroz. “We find having foreign riders really benefits the team, both as a sporting squad and as a diverse group of people.”
“Danny van der Tuuk is a good climber who, in his junior spell, was on par with very renowned riders. As an under23, he has already gathered an interesting, wide experience racing across very different countries. He has enough sporting level to fit into our team, and his best is yet to come.”
“I am a light rider, so I perform quite well in long climbs,” says Danny van der Tuuk. “Most of the races I’ve participated at have been flat, so I know how to handle myself within the bunch and in the crosswinds. My time-trialling is good too because I want to develop into a GC rider and therefore I spend a lot of time training on the TT bike.”
“I’m happy I’m joining Equipo Kern Pharma because I have a very positive image of the team. I think this is exactly the program I was looking for in order to keep developing my talent. The next season won’t be easy, as I will have to adapt to a new environment, yet I want to prove my talent early on. Hopefully I will evolve into a rider similar to my idol Vincenzo Nibali, or to a fellow Dutchman I look up to like Wilco Kelderman.”
Equipo Kern Pharma – 2021 Roster
Roger Adrià (18/04/1998, Barcelona)
Jon Agirre (10/09/1997, Zumaia)
Sergio Araiz (29/04/1998, Ayegui)
Urko Berrade (28/11/1997, Pamplona)
Jaime Castrillo (13/03/1996, Jaca)
Kiko Galván (01/12/1997, Lliça d’Amunt)
Carlos García Pierna (23/07/1999, Tres Cantos)
Raúl García Pierna (23/02/2001, Tres Cantos)
Jordi López (14/08/1998, Badalona)
Diego López Fuentes (09/12/1997, Ayegui)
Martí Márquez (09/02/1996, Llinars del Vallès)
Daniel Méndez (02/06/2000, Bogotá)
Iván Moreno (27/05/1996, Castellón)
Savva Novikov (27/07/1999, Tula)
José Félix Parra (16/01/1997, Ossa de Montiel)
Vojtěch Řepa (14/08/2000, Velká Bíteš)
Ibon Ruiz (30/01/1999, Vitoria)
Enrique Sanz (11/09/1989, Orkoien)
Danny van der Tuuk (05/11/1999, Assen)
