Equipo Kern Pharma is recruiting two more young talents from its feeder team, Equipo Lizarte, to bolster up its UCI ProTeam in 2022. The victor of the 2021 Copa de España, Pau Miquel, and the winner of the 2021 Vuelta a Zamora, Eugenio Sánchez, will step up to the pro ranks along with both Spanish National U23 champions, Igor Arrieta and Iván Cobo, whose signings were already announced in July.
“We’ve chosen to offer a pro contract to both Pau Miquel and Eugenio Sánchez in order to reflect our philosophy of talent development,” asserts Equipo Kern Pharma’s and Equipo Lizarte’s president, Manolo Azcona. “We are proud we are nurturing such high level riders in our feeder team – cyclists up to the task of being solid pros.”
“Pau Miquel has been the top Spanish U23 rider rider this season,” says Equipo Kern Pharma’s and Equipo Lizarte’s Team Manager and Sports Director, Juanjo Oroz. “He is a very good climber and a fast finisher, qualities that will enable him to land very interesting results as a pro. Eugenio Sánchez has proven time and again his commitment with our team values, being a devoted teammate, a reliable all-rounder and an excellent road captain. He is well capable of becoming an excellent domestique also in the top-tier of the sport.”
Since joining Equipo Lizarte from the renowned Club Ciclista Barbastro youth ranks, Pau Miquel (2000, Sant Quirze del Vallés – Barcelona) has had a steady progression as a rider. This season he won the Copa de España, the most prestigious challenge for amateur riders in Spain, collecting on his way to overall triumph two landmark victories at Memorial Pascual Momparler and Memorial Valenciaga. Already a ‘stagiaire’ with Equipo Kern Pharma this summer, he is racing the U23 European Championships RR this weekend with the Spanish national team.
“I’ve built myself up as a rider at Equipo Lizarte,” reckons Pau Miquel, who is studying a University degree in Psychology. “I’m yet to define what kind of rider I want to be. In the meantime, I want to give my best for Equipo Kern Pharma. Over the years I’d love to become a winning rider – that’s what I fancy the most!”
Eugenio Sánchez (1999, born in Albacete, although living in Calpe – Alicante) joined Equipo Lizarte back in 2018 and immediately proved how strong his team spirit was and what a jack of all trades he could be. Even if he delightfully devoted himself to working on behalf of his companions, he still managed to put two of the most remarkable amateur stage races in Spain down to his name: the 2019 Volta a Castelló and the 2021 Vuelta a Zamora.
“I’m positive I’m turning pro because I put my heart and soul in everything I do,” explains Eugenio Sánchez, a Sports Science student himself. “These years at Equipo Lizarte have been the best of my life as a rider because of how fulfilling they have been. Now, with Equipo Kern Pharma, I want to be there at all times. If they ask me to pull on the bunch, I will pull; if they ask me to attack, I will attack. I will do everything in my hand to keep evolving, and for Equipo Kern Pharma itself to grow bigger.”
