Spain gain for city cycling star Charline

Published on Friday 26 September 2008 10:14

CAPITAL cyclist Charline Joiner will have her first taste of international competition when she lines up at the City of Barcelona International Meeting this weekend.

The City of Edinburgh rider will compete against a strong field that includes local favourite Helena Casas, the French pair Laurie Berthon and Camile Lenoble, Ilona Meiring of the Netherlands and Swiss Champion Andrea Wolfer.

In the men's events, Joiner's colleagues Bruce Croall and Matt Haynes will face a familiar foe in the shape of Spaniard Itmar Esteban, winner of the Edinburgh Grand Prix at Meadowbank earlier this year.

Also in the field will be American Michael Blatchford, the Pan-American champion and the Russian Olympian Sergey Polynskiy, as well as Jose Antonio Escuredo, the sprint silver medallist at the Athens games four years ago.

Back on home soil, the Plowman Craven duo of Evan Oliphant and James McCallum top the list of entries for tomorrow's Glenkinchie two-man time trial over 23 miles at Pencaitland, East Lothian.

The event, promoted by Edinburgh RC and contested over a two-lap circuit starting at Glenkinchie Distillery, has attracted a field of 25 pairs.

Also in action will be the host club's Pippa Handley, who has been competing in Europe this season for the Dutch professional team Tubanters.