Cycle Premier Racing Team has finalised its 13 man line up for the 2012 road season with the addition of Australian riders George Tansley and Blair Windsor.
Eighteen year-old George Tansley from Norwood, near Adelaide joins the team from the South Australian Sports Institute after exposure to their national road series last year with some respectable top 20 results, despite only being 17 at the time. 2011 also saw him dominate South Australia's elite premier criterium series winning six rounds to take the overall series winner’s jersey and helping his team to overall victory.
Tansley was also fifth in the national junior criterium championships and gained a silver medal at the national australian junior madison championships, he then went on to finish fourth in the senior event. He also picked up a silver medal in the australian team pursuit championships, a gold medal in the South Australian junior scratch race and silver in the road event.
Tansley said: “I’m really excited about coming to the UK and being part of Cycle Premier. I have heard great things about the UK scene from riders like Zak Dempster who has been really helpful in putting me in touch with the team.”
Endura’s Zak Dempster added: “George has some serious speed. He conducts himself well, trains hard and has a real passion for success, so when I found out Cycle Premier were looking for young guys, I couldn't think of a more appropriate match. It's a great opportunity for George to join a strong team that provides the platform for young guys to perform. I think he is definitely capable of winning at the top level in UK criteriums. His results show his ability with so many wins against high class fields in Australia. I'm looking forward to seeing him make the most of the opportunity and bringing some success to Cycle Premier as thanks to Rod.”
Tansley is also joined on the team by fellow Australian Blair Windsor who returns to the UK from Bathurst in New South Wales after spending some time racing in the UK last year.
With a top 15 placing in the tough Australian bay criterium series, a podium in Jersey, winning the Perth criterium series and a taste of British criterium riding at Tour Series last year Windsor is keen to get stuck into the British crits again this year.
The 23 year old said: “I have established myself in the Australian cycling scene over the past few years and am now looking to take my cycling to the next step by branching out into English racing and try to establish myself as a strong rider. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to ride with Cycle Premier and am really looking forward to coming back to the UK.”
Cycle Premier Team Principle Rod Freeman added: “This year’s squad for 2012 is younger than we have ran in the past, but in our Olympic year we wanted to embrace the ambition that talented, young, local riders have shown and expose them to a mix of experience at various levels, from various countries.
“Our base remains firmly secured in the Midlands and all our foreign riders will also be based here. We’ve formed a group of riders who are keen to progress in cycling and learn from one another in a professional manner. We’ve also been lucky enough to gain support from some of the biggest brands involved in cycling, which we are most grateful for. It’s now time to look forward with excitement to the 2012 season.”
The 13 man squad is now confirmed as Stephen Adams (23), Michael Berling (29), Tom Black (21), Declan Byrne (18), Jamie Caldwell (21), Russell Falder (21), Richard Hepworth (24), Jake Martin (19), George Moore (18), Jon Mozley (24), Chris Pritchard (29), George Tansley (18) and Blair Windsor (23).
The team has also unveiled its 2012 team kit, provided by Italian clothing company, Santini. The team will be exclusively sponsored by Santini in the UK and will use their new Sleek Team clothing range during the 2012 season as well as using Carrera Eyewear from Italy as used by Denis Menchov and Carlos Sastre last year.
