Home > News

UAE-Team Emirates withdraws rider from Giro d’Italia for “unusual physiological results”

Juan Sebastián Molano suspended based on team's test findings

Some surprising news came before the start of the Giro d’Italia’s fourth stage on Tuesday: UAE-Team Emirates withdrew Colombian Juan Sebastián Molano from the race and provisionally suspended him following “unusual physiological results” discovered by the team’s own monitoring system.

It was unclear whether the findings came from blood tests or Molano’s biological passport. The team declared that Molano was suspended and that he would undergo further testing in cooperation with the UCI.

Molano was part of Fernando Gaviria’s sprint train on Stages 2 and 3. Gaviria was declared the winner of Monday’s third stage after Elia Viviani was relegated for deviating from his line. Molano joined UAE-Team Emirates this season from Pro Continental squad Manzana Postobon.

Molano is only the second rider to leave the 2019 Giro peloton, after Hiroki Nishimura of wild card outfit Nippo Vini Fantini Faizanè finished outside the time limit in the Stage 1 time trial.