Team Colombia is ready for their first European stage race of the season, the Etoile de Besseges, which kicks off tomorrow. The team will focus on climbers Jarlinson Pantano and Robinson Chalapud who lead a roster that include several debutants.

After Tour de San Luis and GP Costa degli Etruschi, Team Colombia’s Escarabajos are ready to take part in their second stage race of the season in France, the Etoile de Besseges (February 5th-9th),  5-days French stage race starting in Bellegarde and finishing with an individual time trial in Ales.

For the first three days, the race will be characterized by sprinter-friendly routes, while the 4th stage will finish on  the short and steep Laudin climbs, with 10% average gradient peaking up to 20%. This stage and the 11 km ITT will have a huge influence on the overall classification.

Team Colombia will line-up with a young and motivated group of riders, featuring several new signings: Rodolfo Torres, who debuted at the GP Costa degli Etruschi, “el niño” Edward Diaz, Jonathan Paredes and Luis Largo, in their first appearance with the Escarabajos. The line-up which is led by Sports Directors Valerio Tebaldi and Oliverio Rincòn, will also include sprinter Jeffry Romero, Carlos Julian Quintero, and climbers Jarlinson Pantano and Robinson Chalapud, all experienced riders who will look for a strong performance in the French race.

“We have picked a good mix of more tested athletes and new faces," Tebaldi said. "We will look to show up in the breaks in the first stages, and focus on the uphill finish on the Laudin climb. It’s a very demanding slope, but I feel we got some options to go for a good result.”

Colombia for the Etoile de Besseges:

Robinson Chalapud, Edward Diaz, Luis Largo, Jarlinson Pantano, Jonathan Paredes, Carlos Quintero, Jeffry Romero, Rodolfo Torres