Evan Oliphant switches gear to sign for Wheelbase Altura

Lothians cyclist Evan Oliphant will race in the colours of the Wheelbase Altura team this season after moving from Team Raleigh where he had four successful seasons.

Evan Oliphant

The 35-year-old will bring experience to his new squad and will be joined by another former Team Raleigh man Andy Hawdon, who has also made the switch. Oliphant will be linking up with a familiar face in Davie Lines, who was a Scotland colleague at the Commonwealth Games in Delhi seven years ago.

He will have his first outing on April 2 when the Klondike Grand Prix, the opening round of the British Cycling Spring Cup Series, takes place in the north east of England.

Tom Murray, the team’s sporting director is looking forward to the new season, believing that the arrival of Oliphant and Hawdon can help Wheelbase challenge for honours.

“It has been great to maintain a strong core of our 2016 team while bringing in a great mix of youth and experience to strengthen at the same time,” said Murray. “This team has bags of personality, brings a great mix of abilities and has the potential to perform in any event during this coming season, I can’t wait to get started.”