Parity in prize money between men and women, a new naming rights sponsor and a revamped schedule - the Bendigo International Madison carnival was launched with a bang on Tuesday night.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
For the first time the carnival will be known as the Symes Motors BMW Bendigo International Madison and the increase in sponsorship dollars has been allocated to female athletes.
Male and female athletes will compete for the same amount of prize money across the carnival from March 8-11.
The feature events for women - the Black Pearl 400m for athletes and women's Madison for cyclists - will again highlight the Saturday night program.
"The Madison carnival is in International Women's Week and this (parity in prize money) is our appreciation for women (athletes),'' Bendigo International Madison chair Warren Sinnott said.
"We want everyone to come along and enjoy the carnival atmosphere and enjoy the exciting women's racing."
The parity in prize money headlines major changes for the carnival.
For the first time in Bendigo International Madison history, the field will compete in a Madison Prelude at the Tom Flood Sport Centre on the Friday night.
The 60-lap Madison Prelude promises to be an action-packed race with the team that wins the Prelude to take a points advantage into Sunday night's feature event.
The Madison Prelude will take place at the conclusion of Friday night's Ronde Sports Junior Challenge.
The Australian cycling team for this year's Commonwealth Games was announced on Tuesday and five of the Aussie team are confirmed starters for the Bendigo International Madison.
Sam Welsford will ride with Kelland O'Brien, Nick Yallouris will partner Jordan Kerby, while the fifth member of the Commonwealth Games squad Leigh Howard will be teamed with rising star Cam Scott.
The Madison carnival starts on Thursday night, March 8, with the annual Frank McCaig Memorial Wheelrace.
Carnival organisers are also exploring the idea of changing the direction of the sprint track for athletes at Tom Flood Sports Centre.
Traditionally, athletes have started at the Water Street end of the track and finished at the Park Road end. That could be reversed for this year's carnival.