Bendigo teenager Jamie Crass has endured plenty of dips and rises throughout his cycling career.

A serious crash at the Revolution carnival in Melbourne on December 19, 2007, put his life and cycling pursuits in a spin.

A spinal operation put Crass off the bike for many months, and surgery on his knee ended his dream to compete in last year’s Bendigo International Madison.

On Sunday night, Crass will achieve a long-awaited goal when he races in the McCaig Airconditioning and Daikin-backed classic for the first time.

“Racing in the Bendigo Madison was something I wanted to do from the first time I watched it,’’ Crass said yesterday.

Injuries and operations have tested the 19-year-old’s resolve many times.

“When I first injured my back I wasn’t too sure if I would be able to race a bike again,’’ Crass said.

“The support from my family, friends, doctors, physios, coaches and a lot of other people has helped me a lot . . . not just to get on the bike again, but to race.’’

Crass will team with New South Wales teenager Sam Spokes in Sunday night’s 200-lap contest at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.

They will race in the colours of the Gallic Club from Bendigo Jockey Club, which has kicked in to support up-and-coming cyclists like Jamie Crass.

“It’s going to be a great challenge. We don’t have the strength to match guys like Lampater, Howard and Cam Meyer in all the sprints, but we will be having a go. Anything can happen.’’

The first-year apprentice refrigeration mechanic with Bendigo Refrigeration is kept busy.

Amid all the hurly-burly of the Madison, support races on the track, and tonight’s criterium on Pall Mall, Crass will keep his cool.

More importantly, he’s just rapt to be back racing.