Edgar's eager to fly flag

Ross Edgar waved the Saltire with gusto when he was presented as Scotland's flagbearer for the XIX Commonwealth Games opening ceremony on Sunday.

The 27-year-old cyclist arrived in Delhi on Friday and was selected by his fellow athletes to lead Scotland into the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Sunday at the start of his third Games. Edgar has won four Commonwealth Games medals, but believes the honour is among the best of a distinguished career which includes an Olympic silver medal behind fellow Scot Sir Chris Hoy.

"It's absolutely great. I'm really honoured the athletes have chosen me to be flagbearer," said Edgar. "I'll have a great time leading the Scottish team out in the main stadium."

He added: "I've had some proud moments in the Commonwealth career, but this will definitely be the highest for myself and my family."

Edgar was born in Newmarket, Suffolk and qualifies for Scotland through his Kilwinning-born father.

He speaks with an English accent, but is a patriotic Scot nonetheless and was thrilled with being granted the honour of flying the flag.

"I guess sometimes you get that sense that you're not 100% Scottish," he said. "But it's great that this has happened for me and it's made me feel 100% part of the team. I'll go out there and fly the flag and I'm very proud to do that."

Hoy is absent from the Commonwealth Games, opting instead to ride in November's newly-upgraded European Championships, which offers Olympic qualification points.

Edgar now has the opportunity to emerge from Hoy's considerable shadow as the cycling team's talisman.

"It's sprung up on me a little bit - I'm getting to be one of those older riders I used to look up to," said Edgar, who will compete in the sprint and keirin events. "I'm going to have to change my mindset and start being a bit more responsible maybe."