National criterium champion Graham Briggs spearheads Team Raleigh-GAC’s revamped rider roster for the 2012 season.

Briggs, who signs from Rapha Condor Sharp, is one of nine new riders to join the 12-man squad, with Australian Bernie Sulzberger, who rode the 2012 Tour Down Under for Uni SA-Australia, Evan Oliphant, Brennan Townshend, Simon Holt, Russell Hampton, Tobyn Horton and Daniel Holloway also linking up with the British squad.

Jeroen Janssen, Jamie Sparling and Liam Holohan are the only surviving riders from the 2011 line-up.

The team, unveiled at Raleigh’s UK dealer show on Sunday, will target the Premier Calendar and Tour Series, before making an assault on the Tour of Britain alongside some of the world’s top teams.

And team director Cherie Pridham is excited by the squad’s blend of youth and experience going into the new season.

“Jeroen, Jamie and Liam had a great season in 2011 so we’re excited that they’ll be flying the flag again for Raleigh-GAC in 2012,” she said.

“We’ve got some promising youngsters too, such as Brennan Townshend [winner of the 2011 Junior Tour Of Wales] from Devon so we’re hoping that the example set by Bernie and Briggsy will bring the younger guys on in leaps and bounds.”

Raleigh-GAS 2012 roster

Bernie Sulzberger
Graham Briggs
Daniel Holloway
Russell Hampton
Tobyn Horton
Simon Holt
Evan Oliphant
Liam Holohan
Jamie Sparling
Jeroen Janssen
Brennan Townshend