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CHAMPIONS two years ago, Germany's Leif Lampater and Christian Grassman are among the hot favourites for this Sunday night's Bendigo International Madison.
The chase and sprint ability of both will be well and truly tested in a 200-lap duel at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
It's not just the 30 rivals they have to worrry about.
Bendigo's track is far different to the indoor velodromes the German aces are used to racing on across Europe.
"On this track there is a lot of work to do," Lampater said on Thursday.
"There's a lot less changes than in a madison in Europe," he said of the handsling changes which are an integraly part of the McCaig Daikin Airconditioning-backed classic.
Grassman was runner-up in Europe's final six-day race of the season in Copenhagen.
He also raced in Tasmania's carnivals across Christmas and New Year, and later raced at Bundaberg.
A superb season for Lampater on Europe's six-day circuit included being on the podium six times, and victory in Berlin.
"It was a big win, big crowd," Lampater said.
Both know the madison is full of intrigue.
"Anything can happen over that distance.
"Everybody can crack," said 32-year-old Lampater.
A year ago they were upstaged when a daring solo attack by Bendigo's Sam Crome and Dutchman Roy Pieters paid huge dividends when they lapped the field.
"It was a bit complicated last year," Grassman said of the favourites attacking and counter-attacking many times.
They rate Glenn O'Shea and Jack Bobridge as the greatest threat to their bid for a second victory in Bendigo's great race.
"Jack is unbreakable," Grassman said.
"If his mindset is to race hard he is racing hard- 100, 200 or 300 ks, it doesn't matter.
"Teams pursuit, one-hour pursuit records. He is the complete rider."
Glenn O'Shea is a dual winner of the Bendigo International Madison.
"He is a great cyclist," Grassman said of the Bendigo-raised world champion.
"He is super fast in short seconds.
"Jack and Glenn have the endurance and are extremely fast."
The madison carnival includes Friday night's RACV-backed women's criterium and the Andy's Earthmovers men's criterium.
The action on Bendigo's streets starts about 6.20pm when riders race along Pall Mall, swing left at Bridge Street, charge through Rosalind Park and then swing left onto View Street.
Lampater has won the BIM criterium.
"Everything is possible. The key is to be in the right group, that's for sure."
Grassman is looking forward to the street duel.
"I love the crit races. The sharp corners and the long straight (Rosalind Park and Pall Mall) are a great test."
The format in the women’s criterium will be seven sprints across the 20-lap contest.
Sprints will be four laps apart.
The men’s criterium will go for 30 laps and include two duels for the sprint crown at 20 and 10 laps to go.