Quick fire Q & A with one of Britain’s top pros, Graham Briggs, second in the 2015 circuit race championships and at the sharp end of the Tour of Britain for many stages
![]() |
Xmas Feature 4 – Graham Briggs
Third in the British Junior Road Race Championships in 2001, Graham has for a long time been one of the country’s top pros, delivering great results for his teams and in the Tour of Britain 2015 had a great run of results until getting caught behind a crash on stage 6.
Second this year in the Circuit Race Championships, the Yorkshire rider was in stupendous form late in the season winning two Elite circuit race crits in Wales before getting third in the Welsh GP. He then carried that form into the National Trophy and regional cyclo-cross leagues before taking a well earned break. Graham rides for JLT Condor and here’s his quick fire Q & A …
1. What races are you looking forward to most next season and why?
Graham: The Tour of Yorkshire as I couldn’t believe how much support there was last year and also there is going to be a start/finish in my home town of Doncaster. Also, the Tour of Britain, as I proved to myself this year what results can be achieved in this race by being at the right weight. And of course the Tour Series which speaks for itself!
2. What were your highlights in 2015?
Graham: The National Crit Champs was a race that marked the turning point of my season after illness. All of the Tour of Britain as I was proving to myself what I could achieve. I’m not getting any younger and so the results there gave me a lot of motivation for the years to come. In particularly getting on the podium with my son after achieving the Combativity award on stage 7. Achieving new goals too by getting on the podium in the first two National Cyclocross Series.
3. What race was the most fun in 2015 and why?
Graham: I don’t find any of them fun until I am looking back on them, I find them all stressful!
Signing on at the Aviva Tour of Britain
4. What’s the best piece of cycling related advice you’ve ever been given by John H that has made a difference?
Graham: Stop eating cakes and see what you can achieve.
5. How important has riding ‘cross been at the end of the road season, what do you think you have gained from it and would you ever do a whole season of cross?
Graham: It has lengthened my season rather than just stopping after the Tour of Britain as otherwise it is a long winter as I am not going to Australia/New Zealand this year. I eat too many cakes and so having some motivation at the end of each week for the six weeks that took me up to my end of season holiday, kept me trim and kept the lid on the biscuit tin.
I have learnt the correct technique by doing some work with Ian Field this winter and these bike handling skills transfer directly onto the road which when your not getting any younger, you need to concentrate on gains where ever possible. I would LOVE to do a full season of cross however it does not fit with being a road rider and so maybe I will have to pursue this once I am a vet!
6. How will you spend December on the bike – at home or abroad, long miles only or a mixture of intervals and miles and bike only or gym/cross training too?
Graham: Predominantly at home, however I am breaking it up by going to Lanzarote on Sunday for one week. December is mainly building the strong foundations which I will then build on during January and February. It will be a month of just getting the miles in as I’ve had three weeks off whilst being on holiday. I also do two yoga sessions per week.
And a cheeky Xmas one if pos… if you could have any cycling related xmas present – what would it be!
Graham: A property in Majorca so I can go on training camps frequently and easily!
Send your results as well as club, team & event news here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Features, Reports, Results
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Results: Rhyl CC Junior/Youth Circuit Races
- Crit Result: Evesham Velo Park Winter Races
- CX Result: NWCCA Season Finale
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Velopark) 14
- Crit Results: LVYCC Winter Races 2
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series #4
- Crit Result: Abingdon Race Team Winter Series 1
- CX Result: Western CX #11 (ShamCross)
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 12
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 4
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
Other News on VeloUK
- Q&A with young organiser James Hawkins
- Q&A: Erin Murphy (Alba Dev Road Team)
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist