IT’S been almost a decade since Swiss cycling star Franco Marvulli raced in the Bendigo International Madison.Since his first hit-out in Bendigo’s great race, Marvulli has gone on to win four world championships - two at madison and two in scratch races - and become a star on Europe’s six-day circuit.Marvulli, 31, will make a long-awaited return to the Tom Flood Sports Centre track when he teams with Germany’s Leif Lampater, in this Sunday night’s Bendigo International Madison.The Swiss and German are two of the biggest drawcards for the classic, which is backed by McCaig Airconditioning in association with Fujitsu.Another Swiss star, Monia Turin will race in the women’s criterium and track events across the three-day carnival.For Marvulli there are many fond memories of racing in Bendigo.“The atmosphere is incredible,’’ he said of racing before thousands of fans in what is the southern hemisphere’s biggest race of its kind.He teamed with American Jame Carney to be runner-up, in a year when Stephen Pate and Baden Cooke reigned supreme.On Sunday night, Marvulli and Lampater will take on the likes of reigning champions, Leigh Howard and Glenn O’Shea, along with five-time winner Brett Aitken and young gun Jack Bobridge, and Cameron and Travis Meyer from Western Australia.“I promised Rik McCaig (Bendigo International Madison CEO) a long time ago that I would return to Bendigo and race again,’’ Marvulli said yesterday.“In other years there have been commitments to world championships, or training camps, but this time I decided nothing would hold me back.’’Marvulli and Lampater warmed up for Bendigo’s classic by being the number one team in last Saturday night’s Australian Madison championship at Joe Ciavola Velodrome in Northcote.”We know the Bendigo field will be much stronger, and the race a lot tougher,’’ said Marvulli.“The most important leading into this race is respect - for our opponents, and what is a unique madison.’’Marvulli has seen first-hand what Eaglehawk’s own Glenn O’Shea, Geelong’s Leigh Howard, South Australia’s Aitken and Bobridge, and Cameron Meyer are capable of doing.The Swiss champion has great faith in the ability of his teammate.“Leif brings a lot of aggression to every race he is in.“He is an aggressive rider and a fighter from the first lap until the last.“And he’s quick.’’It will be sprinting ability as much as their pursuiting skills that will put the McCaig Airconditiong-backed team to the fore in the 200-lap showdown.“Although the track is a lot different to the velodromes in Europe, you can still gain a lot of pace, especially in the handsling changes,’’ Marvulli said.Back in January, Marvulli and Lampater teamed up to be third in the Rotterdam six-day race.Marvulli did not add to his career tally of 23 wins, but was runner-up at least six times in the latest European six-day season.For Turin, this weekend’s racing will be the first time she has competed in Bendigo.Turin raced in the Melbourne leg of the World Cup last November.Although points races and scratch are her best discipline, Turin is looking forward to the challenge of Friday night’s RetireInvest criterium in the city centre, and the wheelraces on the track.“Franco (Marvulli) and Erik Weispfennig both told me that if I am going to be in Australia, I have to race at Bendigo,’’ Turin said.Based at Jindabyne during her stint in Australia, Turin took on track cycling five years ago.“I learnt a lot from racing at the World Cup.’’For Turin a long-term goal is to compete at the 2012 London Olympics, as it is for Marvulli.But for now, the immediate focus is on the Bendigo International Madison carnival.Although he is a multiple world champion, an Olympic silver medallist, and dominated on Europe’s tracks for many years, Marvulli is desperate to add a Bendigo victory to his record.“So many great cyclists have won this race. I want to join them.’’Lampater is equally motivated to achieve victory in Sunday night’s contest.