Jarlinson Pantano is pleased to have signed a contract with IAM Cycling. The Colombian appreciates the fact that he will take a next step in his career with the Swiss outfit where his main task is to support Mathias Frank in the mountains. He has signed a one-year contract.

Jarlinson Pantano shared his impressions in the "Ultimo kilometro" program from Switzerland where he is participating in a small training camp with his new teammates.

"It's really a big thing to join IAM Cycling next year. I need to thank my manager Mattia Galli. After the Giro d'Italia and the Vuelta a Colombia, I had the opportunity to speak with the owner of the team and things went from there. I have been given this great opportunity and I hope to take advantage of it," he said.

Pantano joines the Swiss team "to help Mathias Frank in the mountains and I was told that I would also have my opportunities."

The Colombian rider hopes to benefit from this new challenge in his career. 

"For me it is a very important step. I've always dreamed of being in Europe. I have already been here for three years with Team Colombia. Now I get the chance to try to improve. It fills me with great satisfaction. I want to experience new things so I am very happy to take this step in my career. It is an opportunity to make progress. I hope it will be positive both for me and for my team next year," he said.

His intention is to return to Colombia later this month. 

"The next meeting is going to be on December 8 when we will define the race schedule and we will be given our equipment," he said.

Pantano will return to Switzerland where he raced at the World Cycling Centre ICU. 

"It fills me with great joy. I did not expect it but that's cycling. I have the same mechanic as I had back then and that will allow me to adapt easier. Of course there is the language barrier but some of my teammates speak Italian," he said.