Slipstream picks up Martin

Team Slipstream, which was recently announced as the latest professional team to be added to the inaugural Tour of Ireland start list, have an additional incentive to perform well on the island: its newest signing is Irishman Daniel Martin.

"We will be debuting Irish rider Daniel Martin as a stagiaire there," said Slipstream director Jonathan Vaughters. "He is a highly sought after U23 talent... We beat the ProTour teams to the punch in signing this hotshot."

Martin, the nephew of cycling legend Stephen Roche, and cousin to Credit Agricole's Nicolas Roche, was the winner of the mountains classification in the Ronde de l'Isard, so his climbing ability was an obvious reason for the Slipstream team to select him. In addition, Vaughters noted that "his talent and sense of humour will fit in perfectly with what we've got coming in 2008."

Vaughters will send a strong team to the Irish race, and said "I think we'll have a competitive team, as its the last race we do before the USPRO road championships."