Australian gets Giro d'Italia call up

Australian sprinter Chris Sutton is set to start in the Giro d'Italia after illness forced the withdrawal of his Team Sky teammate Peter Kennaugh.

Christopher Sutton of Sky Pro Cycling leads riders up Mount Buningyong Road during the 2012 Cycling Australia Road National Championships on January 8, 2012 in Buninyong, Australia (File: Getty)

Australian rider Chris Sutton has received a Giro d'Italia call up following the withdrawal of Peter Kennaugh.

British rider Kennaugh pulled out of the race three days before it is due to get under way because of illness, his Team Sky said on Tuesday.

Kennaugh, who won his first title in March but was also forced out of the Liege-Bastogne-Liege because of illness, will be replaced by sprinter Sutton.

"I'm feeling better now but I'm behind on where I wanted to be," he said. "The decision was taken along with the doctors and trainers. I'm training again and the aim is to become competitive again in a few weeks."

Sutton, 29, won a stage of the Tour of Spain in 2011.

The three-week race begins with three stages in Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland before heading to Italy.

Team Sky squad in full:

Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Dario Cataldo (ITA), Philip Deignan (IRL), Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Sebastian Henao (COL), Salvatore Puccio (ITA), Kanstantsin Siutsou (BLR), Chris Sutton (AUS), Ben Swift (GBR)