Cycling: Evan Oliphant comes close again

Capital cyclist Evan Oliphant again came close to posting a win in the British Cycling Premier Calendar Series, but once more he fell just short at the Tour of the Reservoir in Northumberland.

Oliphant crossed the line in ninth place, five seconds down on the day’s winner, Scott Thwaites, of West Lothian-based Endura Racing Team.

It was just the latest in a string of successes for Endura, who have dominated the two previous rounds. Underlining their superiority, they also had Russell Downing in third place.

Another Lothians rider, James McCallum, was replaced in the Rapha Condor-Sharp on the eve of the race, freeing him to compete at the David Campbell Memorial Road Race in Fife.

The in-form 33-year-old won the 82-mile race, coming home four seconds clear of Peter Murdoch (Team Cyclelane), with Eddie Addis (Equipe Velo Ecosse) a further second down in third.