The 2012 season for the Orica–GreenEDGE cycling team began in January at the Bay Classic Series.
The team formed for the 2012 season as part of a scheme to promote cycling talent in Australia, and not come into such difficulties suffered by another Australian team – Pegasus Sports – which folded without contesting a race due to sponsorship issues.
Known simply as GreenEDGE for the first four months of 2012, the team acquired Orica as a title sponsor shortly before the Giro d'Italia.
The week after the Bay Classic Series,[33] the team swept the Australian national championships in Buninyong, Victoria, as Gerrans – one of 16 GreenEDGE riders in the race – won the road race title,[34] and Durbridge won the time trial title ahead of team-mate Cameron Meyer.
[35] The team made its debut on New Year's Day, in the Bay Classic Series in Victoria, Australia.