James McCallum, the Commonwealth Games medallist, will aim to deliver a Scottish win when the Halfords Tour Series makes its first visit north of the Border tonight, writes Colin Renton. The 12-round competition kicks off in Kirkcaldy on a 1.4km circuit that should suit McCallum, a former British Criterium champion, who leads the defending series champions Rapha Condor-Sharp. Among the riders supporting him will be the Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy, and world champion Andy Tennant.
Also keen to make a mark on home soil will be the Endura Racing Team, who have dominated British road racing so far this season, while Scottish champion Evan Oliphant is listed to ride for Team Raleigh. Another Scot, Robbie Hassan, will feature for the series newcomers, Team Herbalife.
hockey
The midfielder Nikki Kidd is the only member of the Scotland women's squad who plays for a club on the continent – she signed for the leading Germany side Mannheimer at the start of the season – but the hectic international schedule over the next year will almost certainly force the former Grove Menzieshill player to return home, writes Craig Madden.
She is almost certain to be selected by Scotland coach Gordon Shepherd for the five-Test series against South Africa at Titwood in Glasgow at the end of May, at which time Mannheimer, mid-table in the highly-competitive Bundesliga, will still be playing, and harbouring hopes to making the end of season play-offs. Kidd will thus have to commute between Mannheim and Scotland for her club and national commitments.
The post-OIympic period is crucial for Shepherd's charges; the Scots will play in the first round of the inaugural World League in Prague in mid-August, then move on to the Champions Challenge I in Italy a month later, and finally the second round of the World League is scheduled for early 2013. The programme for Scottish clubs is adjusted to suit the international schedule, but Kidd would be unable to fulfil her commitments to Mannheimer.
"Things have been going well for me in Germany but I'm not getting to grips with the difference in structure and tactics from back home," said Kidd. Her experience in one of the top domestic competitions in the world in the past year should help Scotland's drive to consolidate the progress made since Shepherd took over as head coach almost two years ago, while several clubs will be keen to sign the free-scoring player for next season.
ice hockey
Jordan Krestanovich, the Braehead Clan captain has signed for another year with the Renfrew-based club, writes Nigel Duncan. The 30-year-old left-wing from Canada joined midway through their first season and is now a firm favourite with the fans. He finished last season with 69 points from 50 games and is determined to maintain the same high standards next season.
MOTOR RACING
Bathgate's Dario Franchitti cranked up the pace on day two of practice for next week's Indianapolis 500, writes Lorin McDougall. The 2007 and 2010 winner was 18th-quickest on day one but improved to 14th-fastest despite completing only 17 laps of the 2½-mile oval. The Ganassi driver averaged almost 218mph as he posted a best time of 41.2857sec. Qualifying is on Saturday and the race on May 27.
tennis
Elena Baltacha goes into this week's Sparta Prague Open with her British No.1 ranking under threat after first-round losses in her last three events, writes Lorin McDougall. She has slipped three places to 70 in the new world rankings, just six places ahead of England's Anne Keothavong. Baltacha is seeded No.6 in Prague and opens against Spain's Lara Vecino.
n Linlithgow's Colin Fleming will find out today if he has any chance of playing in the French Open. He has been sidelined for the past four weeks by a stress fracture in his left leg, but an MRI scan could give him the green light to return to training in time for the start of Roland Garros on May 28.
n Jamie Baker, the British No.3, is up to a career-high No.206 in the ATP Tour's world rankings after reaching the quarter-finals of last week's challenger event in Athens.
Volleyball
Harry Brokking, the Great Britain men's coach, has warned his players that they must not let their standards drop as they stand on the verge of qualifying for the European Championships group stages, writes Roddy Mackenzie.
In their first competitive match of the season, Great Britain beat Albania 27-25, 25-23, 25-20 in their first-round, first-leg tie in Tirana at the weekend, and the teams meet again in the return in Crawley on Saturday.
"We did not know much about our opponents and so our start was a little shaky," said Brokking. "However, as we progressed through the match, we stepped up the quality of our play and so we deserved this win. It was a beautiful game and I am happy with the result. We have to keep up that same level also for the return."
