TEAM Herbalife Wheelbase held their launch party this weekend at the Ashton Memorial in the grounds of Williamson’s Park overlooking Lancaster and the Lakeland fells beyond.

Among the riders in the team are Kendal's Lyn Hamel and Stuart Reid and Ulverston junior Jack Sadler.

Eurosport’s Mike Smith presided over affairs, and as ever he gave the riders a grilling over their individual ambitions for the year and picked up on one or two anecdotes, giving a humorous and informative introduction to the audience.

This year Director Sportives Geoff Newcombe and Neil Taylor have expanded the squad, drafting in some new riders to help in the Premier Calendar races and to give further depth to the team from last year.

Alastair Kay has joined the team from York Cycleworks and Simon Baxter and Ian Taylor, both based in the North-East have joined the team, and both of whom have placed well in Premier Calendars in the past.

Simon has a lot of experience of the Belgian kermesse scene which he hopes to use to his advantage.

Also joining the team this year is Jack Cutsforth and Andrew Coupe who was the 2009 CDNW Elite Series winner.

As well as their youth and junior riders, Team Herbalife Wheelbase have been joined by 2010 National Hill Climb Champion and holder of the 2008 National BBAR, Lyn Hamel who will be targeting specific time trials this year and also aiming to excel in some of the women’s National road race series.

Martyn Farmer from Herbalife addressed the audience and talked about his enthusiasm for the team, his ambitions in 2011.

This year the team will be riding Cannondale HiMod Super 6 SRAM Red bikes with Mavic wheels and Bontrager tyres, supplied by Wheelbase.co.uk based in the Lake District and Wheelbase director Toby Dalton explained how he and the business were enjoying this successful collaboration with the team and taking it further in 2011.

The team have retained last year's sponsors Onimpex UK Ltd, ran by Ken Jones who supplies the team’s fantastic BioRacer team kit and Signs Express of Lancaster fronted by Thomas Somers, who will be providing all the team’s sublimation for kit and cars.

New to the team this year is CyClaim a cyclist injury claims specialist.

With the expansion of the team it has allowed the squad to race in more races this year and provides some resilience throughout the long season.

Next week the team will be travelling northwards to compete in the Gifford Road Race, part of the Scottish Sup6r Six race series; as well as journeying south to the 39th Severn Bridge – Felt Road Race.