Slipstream rider heads to VC La Pomme

Alex Howes (Team Slipstream) has signed with French amateur team VC La Pomme Marseille for 2008.

The 19 year-old was born in Golden, close to Boulder (Colorado). In his first season in the professional peloton he showed superb motivation, riding the six months of his season on the US criterium circuit. After a big crash last Summer, Howes ventured to Europe for a hard programme starting with the Tour du Limousin as well as the ProTour event, the GP Plouay.

Based in the South of France, Howes' new team says he'll take part to some biggest amateur races in Europe. After that, the team said, he can return to the professional ranks again "like 23 other VC La Pomme Marseille's riders have done since 2003."

"We look forward to working for the first time with a young US talent", Frédéric Rostaing, VC La Pomme Marseille's manager said.