In what's becoming a tradition, a daring breakaway would reign supreme in the 30-lap cycling contest.

A top-class field raced along Pall Mall, swung onto Howard Place and then through Rosalind Park.

After negotiating the turn onto View Street the riders then powered back along Pall Mall in the heart of Bendigo.

Jones and Avanti team-mates Mark O'Brien from Horsham, and last year's criterium champion Scott Law were to the fore.

Bendigo's Sam Crome, racing in the Charter Mason colours, was prominent in the first half of the race.

A breakaway group of six soon became three as Jones joined forces with Horsham's Sam Witmitz and Germany's Leif Lampater.

The criterium champion in 2009 and reigning Bendigo International Madison, Lampater kept on winning the sprints.

What was more decisive was the lead just kept on building.

On bell lap Witmitz attacked on the lengthy straight in Rosalind Park.

Having toppled some of cycling's biggest names in this summer's Mitchelton Wines Bay criterium series, Jones did so in Bendigo.

Jones won in a slick time of 46.32 minutes from Witmitz and Lampater.

The main pack rolled in 26 seconds later in which Law fought on to be fourth overall from New Zealand's Shane Archbold.

Jones said he learnt a lot from two previous hit-outs in the Bendigo's street classic.

"This race just keeps on getting better every year.

"It was a great breakaway to be in."

Jones praised O'Brien and Law for their attacks which split the field early in the contest.

"Leif and Sam are really strong riders and we worked well to keep building our lead."

The 22-year-old said the focus is now on next weekend's criterium in Mooloolaba and then on the national road series.

In the race for the BendBal sprint king title, Lampater ruled the way on 13 points from Witmitz 8, Jones 4, O'Brien 3, and Crome 2.