Evan Oliphant out to make a splash

Lothians cyclist Evan Oliphant will be out to make a splash at this weekend's Tour of the Reservoir in Northumberland.

Evan Oliphant won the Tour of the Reservoir in 2013

The Team Raleigh-GAC rider has an outstanding record in the two-day event, with several top-ten finishes throughout his career and overall victory three years ago.

The 34-year-old has made a solid start to the season and took second place in races at Aberdeen and Stirling before acquitting himself well against a strong field at last weekend’s Manx International Grand Prix.

Oliphant believes that his performances so far augur well for his latest outing, which features an opening stage over 90 miles tomorrow and a 98-mile haul on Sunday around and nearby Derwent Resevoir, south of Hexham.

Oliphant is joined in the eight-man Raleigh squad by fellow Scots Craig Wallace and Fraser Martin, who are in their first season with the Nottingham outfit.

Among the other competitors in a field of 99 for the event which forms part of the British Cycling Motorpoint Spring Series are Edinburgh’s Phil Trodden, now racing in the colours of the Bikehaus by Ridley team, and Capital firefighter David Lines (Wheelbase Altura), who pipped Oliphant at the recent Aberdeenshire event.