Chris Sutton has shown strong form heading towards what will be his third season with the Sky Procycling team, winning a stage plus the overall in the NSW Grand Prix. Sutton triumphed in Saturday’s opening round, hitting the line first ahead of Graeme Brown (Rabobank), Ben Kersten (Team Jayco-2XU), Richard Lang (Jayco AIS) plus the rest of the main field, then defended his overall lead in netting second on Sunday’s second leg.
2010 world under 23 champion Michael Matthews (Rabobank) was quickest in Sunday’s gallop, beating Sutton and Brown in the big sprint. The combined results saw Sutton finish with a total of 38 points, eight more than Matthews and Ewan.
Speaking afterwards, Sutton said that things were very straightforward on day two. “I had a really easy ride. I had Jeremy [Hunt] there who was looking after me a fair bit so I hardly had to hit the wind and it worked out perfect,” he said according to his Sky Procycling website.
“I just had the perfect sit and Graeme Brown couldn't come off the wheel. It was a tailwind downhill sprint so it's going to be pretty hard to pass people when they hit the front with 100 metres to go.
“It's a good way to start the season and I'm pretty honoured to win in front of all these classy bike riders.”
The British team said that he will next compete in the Jayco Series in Geelong plus the Australian nationals. The Santos Tour Down Under will be his first race of next season.
Sutton picked up one of the top results of his career this year when he sprinted to victory on stage two of the Vuelta a España. He was also first in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and on stage two of the Tour de Wallonie-Picarde.