KEY POINTS:
New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean will switch from his Credit Agricole team to the American Slipstream, he confirmed yesterday.
Dean, the only New Zealander in this year's Tour de France, joins his former teammates David Zabriskie and Christian Vandevalde at Slipstream.
"I can now officially let you all know that I'm up for a change of scenery next year," the Spanish-based Dean said on his website.
"The 2008 season will see me heading to the ever-expanding American team Slipstream. For me it's just all about tackling a new opportunity and a new environment and I'm really looking forward to it all."
Dean joined Credit Agricole in 2004. Before that he rode for US Postal, these days known as Discovery Channel, and Team CSC.
He shot to prominence in this year's Tour de France when he led his teammate Thor Hushovd to victory in the fourth stage.
Hushovd said Dean was the best lead sprint rider in the world.
- NZPA
