Team Raleigh-GAC’s Bernie Sulzberger has won the sprint jersey in Australia’s Jayco Bay Classic criterium series.

Sulzberger finished fourth on day one and won the sprint jersey, a prize he defended across the four days of the series. He will race for the Nottingham-based outfit throughout 2012.

The 29-year-old Australian, a former national road race champion, held off the challenge of countrymen and established WorldTour stars, Robbie McEwen and Chris Sutton.

“That’s a good start for me. I was in good condition here last year and now I’m as good or better so I’ll head into the crits tomorrow night and the road race with pretty good form. I’m happy with the way things are going,” said Sulzberger.

He returns to action today in the Australian criterion championships and will compete on Sunday in the national road race championships.

Team Manager Cherie Pridham said: “Bernie brings many aspects to the team, and that has shown already. We are really looking forward to the training camp and kicking the season off in Holland.”

Raleigh-GAC is one of only five British teams with the ‘Continental’ status to compete in the UCI’s Europe Tour. Riders will compete in key domestic races, like the Halfords Tour Series and the Lincoln GP, as well as in European semi-classics.

Team Raleigh-GAC will begin their season at the Ster Van Zwolle UCI 1.2 race in Holland on February 25.