City cycle duo are all set for a tough test

Capital cycling stars Evan Oliphant and James McCallum will be looking to make their mark on a strong international field of 180 competitors in the gruelling Tesco Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic tomorrow.

The pair feature in a field of 32 teams drawn from 17 countries for the 105-mile race that has been dubbed England's version of the Paris-Roubaix because of the cobbled sections and tough terrain.

Oliphant will be joined on the start line by Livingston's Callum Wilkinson and their Endura colleagues Rob Hayles, Rob Partridge, Dave Clarke and Scott Thwaites.

Meanwhile, McCallum, who struck winning form when he took the honours at the Sup6r Six event in Helensburgh earlier this month, will combine with colleagues from his new team Rapha Condor-Sharp, among them the Namibian rider Dan Craven who was runner up last year.

The 31 year old joined the English-based outfit from Endura at the start of the season. His main objective for the season is the city centre Tour Series which plays to his strengths as a criterium rider, and kicks off in Durham next month.