Shepparton Cycling Club will again host the Shepparton Christmas Track Carnival on December 28 at the velodrome.
It will be the opening event of the Victorian State Christmas Track Carnival Series with following competitions held in Bendigo and Castlemaine.
After the success of 2023, Shepparton Cycling Club president Brett Lancaster said the club was eager to host the event once again.
“Last year was the biggest in at least 10 years, so it has sort of bounced back the track scene,” Lancaster said.
“(In 2023), Shepp was really well run and we had people and even some riders from New Zealand and Queensland.
“It was a really good platform with the variety of races they had, we had really good feedback and a good turnout.”
Shepparton cycling product and recent world masters track sprint cycling champion Alison Lee has given the event and the region’s female cyclists a boost.
Lancaster said Lee had been generous in providing a handsome sponsorship to an under-17 female race.
“I believe it could be one of the richest races for under-17 women in the country and (Lee) is personally sponsoring it, which is exciting,” he said.
“For women’s sport, it is incredible for Alison to get behind it.”
One of the region’s beloved cycling figures will be in attendance with former Shepparton Cycling Club president and current cycling commentator Ian Maher coming to the event.
Lancaster said it was great getting old club members back involved with cycling in Shepparton.
“(Maher) was a club president at Shepparton in the ’90s when I was a young fella,” he said.
“The club was going really well back then, it was probably one of the golden eras.
"Ian lived and worked up here for quite a while, he is down in Melbourne now.
“He commentates down in Melbourne for the big races and he has been in Tasmania for their big carnivals in recent years.
“It has been really good to have Ian back, to be honest, a lot of local people will know (him), it is pretty exciting.”
A strong turnout of participants is expected for Saturday’s event, however, the Christmas carnival isn’t solely for riders as Lancaster said there was plenty on offer for spectators.
“There is always a bit of action, hopefully no crashes,” he said.
“It will be really fast racing, there are some really good up-and-coming juniors.
“Under the Commonwealth Games grant, the BMX track has been done up, so we should hopefully have 3000 lux lights.
“Spectators will be able to come in and view the racing really clearly at night time.”
