Cycling: Oliphant set for India test

Capital cyclist Evan Oliphant was set for his first competitive outing of the year at the Tour de Mumbai in India today.

Oliphant's highlights last season included fifth and sixth place finishes on the track at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi, as well as a host of excellent performances on home soil including victory in the Scottish road race championships.

He has made the trip as part of a six-strong squad from the Lothians' Endura Racing Team alongside Livingston's Callum Wilkinson, together with the English quartet of James Moss, Scott Thwaites, Ian Wilkinson and Rob Hayles. The Mumbai event carries world ranking points but unusually is contested as two races which do not take place on consecutive days. Today's 113-kilometre race in Nashik is the first leg, while the second part will take place over 104km in Mumbai on Sunday.

Also in the field is a group of familiar faces from the Motorpoint team and American outfit RadioShack which includes three-times Tour de France green jersey champion Robbie McEwen.