The Symes Motors BMW Bendigo Madison is the blue ribbon event of Bendigo's famous cycling and athletics carnival.
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It's hard to see the Madison playing second fiddle to other evens at the carnival, but this year's Golden Mile Wheelrace might just be the race that everyone remembers from the 2018 meeting.
Olympian Sam Welsford will attempt to create history by becoming the first rider to win three consecutive Golden Mile titles.
Stephen Pate made the race his own in the 1990s when he won at four times and much-loved Bendigo great Frank McCaig won the race three times in the 1960s, but neither managed to win whe 1600m classic three years in succession.
Welsford's class and speed is reflected by the handicap marks.
The 22-year-old dual world champion faces the daunting task of racing off 15m behind scratch.
"It's a very tough ask, but Sam has earned the right and respect to have a mark like that,'' Olympic gold medalist and leading cycling commentator Scott McGrory said of Welsford.
"Stephen Pate would consistently race off a mark behind scratch, but I can't remember in this modern era where a rider has had to come from behind scratch.
"Sam is an extraordinary bike rider....he's fast, he's the Australian individual pursuit champion and he rides a decent road race and time-trial.
"I don't think the mark changes things too much. Whether he was off scratch or behind scratch he can still win the race.
"It's going to be a tough ask over a short distance of 1600m, but he's as good as anyone I've seen.
"If anyone can do it, Sam can."
History hasn't hindered Welsford in the past.
Earlier this year he became the first rider to win three-straight Burnie Wheelrace finals.
Pate won five Burnie Wheelrace finals and track cycling legend Danny Clarke won it three times, but neither managed to string together consecutive wins.
Welsford will have no room for error in the Golden Mile.
He has to finish in the top three in his heat on Saturday night just to qualify for Sunday night's final.
His heat rivals include his Bendigo Madison team-mate Kelland O'Brien (scratch), world pursuit champion Jordan Kerby (15m) and Dutch star Nick Stopler (40m).
McGrory said Welsford and O'Brien were deserved favourites for the Bendigo International Madison.
However, the two-time Bendigo Madison champion expected the race to go down to the wire.
"Sam and Kelland are potentially the best team on the track, but the Bendigo International Madison is over 80km and the longer the race goes the more it suits someone like Leigh Howard who has won this race three times,'' McGrory said.
"Leigh Howard and Cam Scott are probably the second favourites.
"This race is very tactical and, as we've seen in recent years, a lesser-ranked team can bob up and lap the field late in the race and upset the favourites."
