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AN attacking mindset has played a big part in the success Australian cycling stars Glenn O'Shea and Jack Bobridge have racked up on tracks around the world.
They will join forces in Sunday night's McCaig Daikin Airconditioning-backed Bendigo International Madison.
O'Shea returns to the city where he first raced and grew up to chase a third BIM victory.
Bobridge's only previous start in Bendigo's classic was in 2007 when he teamed with Tim Decker.
These days they are rider and coach in Australia's track endurance squad.
Less than a fortnight ago, O'Shea and Bobridge contested the madison at the world track titles in France.
"This is the most enjoyable madison of the year," O'Shea said on Friday at the Tom Flood Sports Centre.
"Racing before a home crowd, family and friends is always exciting.
"This is a track I first learnt to race on and know well, but there's always lots of challenges."
O'Shea capped his latest world titles by winning silver in the six-discipline omnium.
HIs feats across 2014-15 meant he was joint winner with yachtsman Glenn Ashby for the 50th Bendigo Bank Bendigo Advertiser-Prime 7 Sports Star of the Year award.
It was the fourth time O'Shea has won the gold statue.
"Racing is not for the awards, but to be named Sports Star again means a lot to me.
"There are a lot of great names on the honour roll."
O'Shea believes his and Bobridge's all-round skill and pursuit background will put them well in contention.
"A madison is like a game of poker. There's a lot of different tactics at play."
Bobridge is determined to join the list of Bendigo International Madison winners.
"To win would be a massive honour," Bobridge said.
"A lot of the internationals know about the Bendigo International Madison and how prestigious it is."
Bobridge's latest word titles campaign included silver in the individual pursuit and seventh in the madison with O'Shea.
"It was the first time I had raced a madison at world titles.
"Racing with Glenn on his home track and in a race he has won before (2008 and '09) is a huge bonus.
"Glenn has a lot of race smarts and is a fierce competitor."
Team-mates at Budget Forklifts, O'Shea and Bobridge know the 80km battle for madison glory will be taxing.
The madison is the dramatic finale to the cycling program.
Feature events include Ronde Cycling Apparel Gold and Opal Wheelrace 2000m; Bee Happy Orhtodontic women's 1600m wheelrace; Andy's Earthmovers Golden Mile Wheelrace 1600m; Innes Motors Honda women's six-lap pursuit scratch race; and the Manskie family-sponsored Norm Manskie Memorial 15-lap scratcy race.
A highlight of Saturday's racing is the Bendigo Selection Centre-sponsored Bill McLachlan Memorial Aces Five Mile Scratch Race over 20 laps.
Teams for Saturday night's Innes Motors Honda women's madison, 60 laps at 8pm:
Nicole Whitburn-Chloe Baggs, Alex Manley-Jess Mundy, Kristy Glover-Brit Lindores, Rebecca Williamson-Jessie McLean, Chloe Moran-Dani McInnery, Macey Stewart-Lauren Perry, Taryn Heather-Felicity Wardlaw, Jessica Lane-Catherine Gautier, TBA, Tayla Evans-Hayley Jones.
Teams for the McCaig Daikin Airconditioning Bendigo International Madison, 200 laps from 8pm on Sunday.
Glenn O'Shea-Jack Bobridge, Leif Lampater-Christian Grassman, Callum Scotson-Dan Fitter, Hayato Okamoto-Hiroki Moriguchi (Japan), Graeme Brown-Sam Welsford, Tirian McManus-Ben Harvey, Josh Harrison-Alex Porter, Minori Shimmura (Japan) and Scott Sunderland.
Jackson Law-Nick Yallouris, Brad Evans (New Zealand)-Brendan Schultz, Mark O'Brien-Sam Witmitz, Roy Pieters (Netherlands)-Sam Crome, Pat Lane-Alex Smythe, Luke Knox-Sam Lane, Tyler Spurrell-Evan Hull, James Robinson-Rowan White.