Former junior national road race champion Russell Hampton has joined Team Raleigh for the 2012 season.

The former GB Academy rider, who won a World Cup Track event in Los Angeles during that period, climbed to a new level in the Tour of Britain after a long breakaway saw him don the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey after stage 1. Hampton also won the Combativity award on the same stage.

Hampton’s ability to climb and time trial will bring considerable strength to Raleigh’s stage race and Premier Calendar program and his speed as well will be a welcome addition when it comes to the lead outs for the team’s sprinters.

Team Raleigh’s Cherie Pridham commented: “We are very pleased to secure Russell at this late stage. He is exactly the type of rider we were looking for to complete the Team Raleigh roster for 2012. Russell is only 23 years old, but is very experienced having spent two years on the GB Academy. Russell can climb, he can time trial, and I know he is very excited to be on board.”

Hampton added: “I’m really happy with my decision to sign for Raleigh. Cherie and Eddie have shown how they really want to move things on at Raleigh by the riders they have brought in and that was the big attraction for me. The race programme too is what I am after as I’m really looking to do some international racing.”