O'Shea teams with Bobridge in Bendigo International Madison

Bendigo-raised O'Shea is a dual winner of the great race.

This year's edition will be contested on March 8 and caps a great weekend of athletics and cycling action at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.

O'Shea's outstanding record includes silver in the teams pursuit at the 2012 London Olympics, world omnium champion in 2012, and key member in Australia's dominance of the teams pursuit at world titles and the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Bobridge's all-round brilliance has netted world title and Commonwealth Games gold in the individual pursuit and teams pursuit.

The first of O'Shea's three victories in the Australian Madison was with Bobridge in 2007.

They are now team-mates with Team Budget Forklifts.

Chief executive officer for the Bendigo International Madison, Rik McCaig said five previous winners had committed to this year's race.

"Reigning champions Sam Crome from Bendigo and Roy Pieters from The Netherlands will chase back-to-back wins," said McCaig.​

German stars Christian Grassman and Leif Lampater won the Bendigo classic in 2013 and will be back again.

After stunning rivals in last month’s Australian Madison championship, Jackson Law and Nick Yallouris will team up in Bendigo.

South Australia’s young guns Alex Edmondson and Miles Scotson will be a major threat.

Both were in hot form in the under-23 road race and time trial at last week’s national titles in Ballarat and Buninyong.

Japan will be represented in the race by Eiya Hashimoto and Minori Shimmura.

Bendigo fans will closely follow the performances of Brendan Schultz, Aidan Bowe and Chris Hamilton.

A star in mountain bike and road racing, Hamilton will make his debut in the madison when he teams with Horsham’s Mark O’Brien.

Organisers are working toward a 16-team field for the madison.

The carnival includes Thursday night’s Cycling Community Night in which the Frank McCaig Memorial Wheelrace will be contested.

The men’s criterium is in the CBD on Frdiay night.

Black Pearl women’s night on the Saturday includes the women’s madison featuring Bendigo’s Tayla Evans, now Wollongong-based Imogen Jelbart, and possibly reigning national road champion Peta Mullens from Bendigo.