An elderly Melbourne man is lucky to be alive after he was shot at up to six times while cycling through country Victoria.

The sniper responsible for the attack is on the run and police are urgently seeking information to help locate him.

The 72-year-old from Ringwood was struck by at least one bullet in the head and several more in the upper body while riding the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail in Everton in the state’s northeast about midday on Saturday.

The man – who was admitted to the Alfred Hospital with non-life threatening injuries – has been unable to describe his attacker but recalled seeing a man in a dark-coloured sedan shortly before the attack.

Detective Senior Constable Elise Douglas told reporters on Sunday the shooter is believed to have fired four to six bullets at the elderly man using a small firearm.

She says it’s believed the attack was unprovoked and the pair were not known to each other.

Const Douglas said the shooting was a “concern” but other cyclists and hikers should not be discouraged from using the trail.

“There is no indication that cyclists are being targeted for using the rail trail,” she said.

Const Douglas says the man is shaken and is “very, very lucky” to be alive.

He was alone at the time of the shooting but discovered by a passerby shortly after the incident and transferred to hospital.

-AAP