Cyclists found the 72-year-old Ringwood man unconscious and bleeding on the side of the Myrtleford-Everton rail trail about midday Saturday.

Police believe a man pulled up in a dark-coloured sedan and fired four to six shots at the rider, hitting him once in the head and multiple times in the chest.

A pistol was likely used in the shooting, which left the man requiring an airlift to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne.

The man was not known to police. 

The victim’s son, Nick Tennant, said he had been retired for 20 years, kept to himself, and had no enemies. 

“He was just riding on the trail he’s ridden before and before he knew it, he was shot,” Mr Tennant said.

“To see him in hospital (Saturday) night, I don’t know how he’s alive.

“He was OK when I got to him.

“He was just asking how my son went in cricket – all his faculties are fine.

“There’s been no issues with the brain, just his eye.”

The bullet fractured the man’s skull but did not penetrate his brain.

The closest resident was about 200 metres away when the shots were fired, but didn’t hear anything due to the noise his machinery was making.

The rider had been staying at the Myrtleford Holiday Park since Friday.

Crime scene officers examined the man’s white SUV and caravan on Sunday.

The shooting is being investigated by the Melbourne-based armed crime squad. 

Detective Senior Constable Matt Prestage said it was initially thought a shotgun was used, but police now believe the rider was shot with a pistol. 

“He’s extremely lucky, particularly being shot in the head,” he said.

“It fractured his skull but didn’t penetrate his brain.

“He’s in a serious but stable condition and is undergoing further surgery today.”

Detective Senior Sergeant Kevin Coughlan said officers were trying to work out exactly what had occurred. 

“Someone has attempted to cause him some serious harm here today and we’re treating it as an attempted murder,” he said.