Graham Briggs extends contract with Team Raleigh

Following a successful 2012 campaign Team Raleigh is pleased to announce that Graham Briggs has signed an extended contract with the team.

The Nottingham-based team secured the Elite Series Circuit Champion’s signature in Girona, Spain while on a team training camp just prior to the Tour of Britain. Graham took 11 race wins during 2012 including a fine win at Colchester in the Halfords Tour Series and is the current Elite Series Circuit Champion after an incredible campaign by the team.

Graham Briggs in a late season effort at the Monsal Head Hill Climb.

Talking about the 2012 season and the team’s ambitions for 2013 Graham said: “I signed with the team for two years at the beginning of this season and after a successful 2012 I have extended my contract until the end of 2014. I wanted to show my faith in Team Raleigh and I know we have more race wins waiting for us in the coming seasons”.

“The Halfords Tour Series was a big target for us this year and we did well. I took the win in Colchester and Bernie (Sulzberger) won the final Tour Series round in Stoke plus the Boardman Sprints jersey overall. We’re looking to step up again next year by taking the team title and will be working hard towards it.”

That win on a cold rainy night in Colchester was a major turning point in Briggs’ season and it seemed to restore confidence in him and the team. ”The season definitely went forward from Colchester. Wearing a National Champion’s jersey brings its own pressures to a rider and to win one of the biggest crits of the year at Colchester seemed to relieve some of that pressure.”

“I think it showed going into the other races after that. I didn’t want people to think I won the jersey by some kind of fluke. I needed to show I could win races and to win one of the tough ones of the year was very pleasing.”

Arguably one of the most memorable moments of the season for Briggs was on Stage 6 of the Tour of Britain. The stage saw riders heading through Wales with two ascents over the ‘brick wall’ of Caerphilly Mountain just before the finish. After a long breakaway Briggs found himself matching the attacking power of overall race winner Jon Tiernan-Locke to make it over the climb with a clear lead.

“I woke up that morning feeling really good. My legs felt strong enough to do a decent ride, even though it wasn’t my sort of stage. I got in the moves and going up the hill the first time with those crowds put a smile on my face, brilliant feeling!”

Helping to get Graham to the line takes a team effort and although Team Raleigh had a good squad for 2012 there will undoubtedbly be some comings and goings. The 2013 squad will increase to 13 riders and major new signings are imminent. Graham is keen that this new influx of riders prepare well for the season ahead: ”Riders leave and join teams every year and it’s no different for us. Once the new riders are in place we will have to gel as a team during our pre-season training camps then knuckle down to get on with the training for the new season.”

Graham is already training hard for next season with cyclocross racing and track racing at the up-coming Revolution Series rounds in his schedule for the month ahead.