Evan Oliphant leads Team Raleigh in Pearl Izumi Series

Lothians cyclist Evan Oliphant is set for action with Team Raleigh when the Pearl Izumi Series gets under way this evening at Ramsey on the Isle of Man, writes COLIN RENTON.

Evan Oliphant is the Team Raleigh leader

Lothians cyclist Evan Oliphant is set for action with Team Raleigh when the Pearl Izumi Series gets under way this evening at Ramsey on the Isle of Man.

Oliphant is listed to lead the squad of 12, five of whom will line up in each of the competition’s ten rounds.

Tonight’s opener will give an indication as to the form of the six teams which will contest all of the races. Local guest teams will also participate in each round of the competition which also takes in parts of England, Wales and Scotland.

The two races north of the border are on the schedule for next week, with Motherwell the venue on Tuesday and Edinburgh hosting round three on Thursday.

Among the other Scots in the long list of 72 riders is Peebles rider Grant Ferguson (Pedal Heaven), a member of the British Cycling Academy in Manchester, and Edinburgh University student Fraser Martin, a team-mate of Oliphant at Raleigh.

Meanwhile, the women’s Matrix Fitness Series of six races which runs alongside the men’s competition, starts in Motherwell but does not include the Edinburgh round this season.