Sydney's Sutton wants Slipstream success in '08

By Jean-François Quénet

Australian Christopher Sutton is hoping to take his professional career to the next level when he moves to American Professional Continental squad Team Slipstream. The Sydney-born Sutton claimed victory in France at the weekend's Châteauroux Classic de l'Indre Trophée Fenioux, a round of the French Cup, as a thank you to his French ProTour team Cofidis.

"I have improved at Cofidis and I wanted to thank them with a win before moving on to Slipstream," said Sutton. "I've trained a lot with Matt White. With him as a director [at Slipstream in 2008], I believe I can improve even more."

Sutton turned professional with Cofidis last season, having ridden for the squad as a stagiaire the previous year. The 22 year-old took victory at the 202 kilometre Cholet-Pays de Loire last season and has already stood atop the podium this season, having won Circuit de la Sarthe's 188.8 kilometre Stage 4.

Sutton joins a long list of high-profile signings to the Professional Continental team, which is aiming for a ProTour slot in 2009. His team-mates in 2008 will include Paris-Roubaix winner Magnus Backstedt, Great Britain's David Millar, Team CSC duo David Zabriskie and Christian Vande Velde, Crédit Agricole Julian Dean.