Tour Colombia 2.1 announced today that American Tejay Van Garderen will race in South America, joining Colombian teammates Daniel Martinez and Sergio Iguita on the six-member EF Pro Cycling roster.

Van Garderen's first year with EF was a mixed bag, although he started with the Tour of the UAE in February, then finished fourth in the Paris-Nice individual time trial, wore the yellow jersey for four days at the Tour of California, and was second overall at the Criterium du Dauphiné, He was unable to challenge for the Grand Tour due to crashes at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España.

Van Garderen's start in South America in 2020 will be different from recent seasons that started in the Middle East and Spain; the 2020 Tour Colombia 2.1 will be held in the Boyaca region around Bogota, with a week of elevation no lower than 2,500 meters.

The 2020 Tour Colombia 2.1 will begin with a 16.7 km individual time trial on Tuesday, February 11, followed by a gently hilly road race until the finale on Sunday, February 16, on the Alto del Berhon climb.

Team Ineos has already announced a lineup that includes Tour de France winner Egan Bernal, Giro d'Italia winner Richard Carapas, and Colombian climber Ivan Sosa. However, the EF group of Van Garderen, Igita, and Martinez, who finished third last year behind Miguel Angel Lopez (Astana) and Sosa, should do well, at least on paper.

The race also recently announced that Colombian Honatan Restrepo will lead the Italian Androni Giacattoli Pro Continental team. Other competitors include Julian Alaphilippe, Bob Jungels, and Arabaro Hodeg of Deceuninck-QuickStep, Fabio Al, Fernando Gaviria, and Jan Polancu of UAE Team Emirates, and winner Anacona of Alcare Samsic. announced. Esteban Chavez (Mitchelton Scott) of Colombia will compete for the Colombian National Team.

Other teams scheduled to compete include Movistar, Israel Startup Nation, Rally Pro Cycling, and Bardiani-CSF-Feizane.