The honour roll is a who's who of Australia's greatest track cyclists
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THE world of sport spins on the drama each contest provides.
Since it began in the early 1970s the Bendigo International Madison has rolled out many dramatic moments.
Expect the unexpected is a tag that sums up what is the biggest madison of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
A year ago Bendigo's Sam Crome and Dutchman Roy Pieters proved the underdogs can triumph.
Their daring solo attack was capped by lapping the field at less than 30 laps to go in the 200-lap duel on the Tom Flood Sports Centre track.
For many long-time madison watchers their feat evoked memories of the stunning upsets sprung by the likes of Tim Decker and Chris White, Malcolm Hill and John Thorsen, and David Maltby and Pat Marcucci.
The hot favourites or the superstars do not win all the time.
In this Sunday night's race, Crome and Pieters will be more closely marked by their rivals.
Pressure on them will be far greater than it was a year ago.
Embracing the challenge, not shying from it is what Crome and Pieters will do.
Their victory of just over 12 months ago is an inspiration to many other teams leading into this Sunday's race.
Who's to say that Brendan Schultz and Brad Evans, or Tyler Spurrell and Evan Hull cannot win.
Market odds for them doing so would be high, but anything can happen in the McCaig Daikin Airconditioning-sponsored classic.
After watching Glenn O'Shea and Jack Bobridge pursue glory in Glasgow and France on our TV screens in the past year it will be great to watch them from just a few metres.
Gaining a spot on the front row of the terrace will be the pursuit of many cycling fans this weekend.
O'Shea's gold medal wins in the teams pursuit at the world titles and then Commonwealth Games earned a record fourth victory in the 50th Bendigo Bank Bendigo Advertiser-Prime 7 Sports Star of the Year award.
A dual winner of Bendigo's great race, O'Shea will be doing all he can to help Jack Bobridge achieve his first Bendigo Intertnational Madison victory.
The honour roll is a who's who of Australia's greatest track cyclists.
Wins by the likes of Danny Clark, Stephen Pate and Brett Aitken are among the most memorable in a race that is now in its fifth decade.
There have been many others who chased victory.
They did not do so, but the many daring attacks, superb sprints, and the occasional crash always kept the fans entrhalled.
The debate on just who is the best in Bendigo International Madison history could rage for days, perhaps weeks.
What cannot be questioned is that every victory was achieved through sheer hard work.