Jarlinson Pantano makes surprise return to racing after four-year doping ban

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Tour de France stage winner to race in low-profile EPM-Scott squad

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 06: Jarlinson Pantano Gomez of Colombia is seen prior to the Men's Road Race on Day 1 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Fort Copacabana on August 6, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Colombian Jarlinson Pantano has made a surprise return to racing after completing a four-year ban for doping with EPO.

Pantano has been confirmed as part of the small EPM-Scott squad in Colombia.

Pantano started his career on home soil in the Colombia es Pasión squad in 2011, before switching to the now-defunct IAM Cycling team in Switzerland and then heading onto Trek-Segafredo prior to his positive test.

Apart from riding all three Grand Tours, he won four races in his career, three at WorldTour level, including a Tour de France stage in Culoz in the Jura mountains. His final victory was a Pyrenean stage in the Volta a Catalunya in 2018.

“I am very pleased to be part of this family,” Pantano said in an interview posted on EPM’s Twitter feed.

“I’m joining this team to contribute all that I can with my experience and what I learned in my professional career."

"Thanks to all those who’ve supported me over the last four years and who have insisted in their messages to me that I return to cycling.”

Alasdair Fotheringham
Alasdair Fotheringham

Alasdair Fotheringham has been reporting on cycling since 1991. He has covered every Tour de France since 1992 bar one, as well as numerous other bike races of all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Olympic Games in 2008 to the now sadly defunct Subida a Urkiola hill climb in Spain. As well as working for Cyclingnews, he has also written for The Independent,  The Guardian,  ProCycling, The Express and Reuters.