Oliphant on a roller-coaster of a weekend

CAPITAL-BASED cyclist Evan Oliphant capped a busy weekend on the road – in more ways than one – with a hard-fought win in the SportActive Scottish Road Race Championships at Hawick on Saturday.

The 26 year old, who had been in action on Friday night at the British Criterium Championships in Beverley, made an early morning dash to the Scottish Borders and rode a controlled race over the undulating 82-mile circuit, shrugging off all but Gary Hand (Pedal Power) entering the final mile.

The pair remained locked as they battled up the home straight but Oliphant held off his rival to clinch the title by less than a bike length.

In the women's race, Claire Thomas (Edinburgh RC) was also involved in a last-ditch sprint against defending champion Kerry Lang (Johnstone Wheelers) but eventually lost out by inches, while Velo Ecosse's Dean Martin led home his teammate Aaron Murray in the junior race.

Oliphant then returned south where he finished 11th in yesterday's East Yorkshire Classic.

BRUCE CROALL ended the European Masters on a high when he helped a British trio to gold in the team sprint and Musselburgh's Alistair Taylor clinched bronze in the 40-44 years men's pursuit.