As the riders turned onto the final straight at the Tom Flood Sports Centre on Tuesday night, it was anyone's race.
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However, it was Bendigo's Pat Eddy (90m) who would blitz a 21-strong field to claim his first Lindsay Harrington Memorial 2000m Wheelrace victory.
By eye it was hard to determine the winner so the judges reviewed camera footage to declare it was Eddy who crossed the line first in a thrilling finish.
Eddy secured first, Sam Buckell (90m) (Bendigo) second, Henry Dietze (75m) (Brunswick) third and Cam Rogers (100m) (Canberra) fourth.
"We came in pretty early to catch the front markers, I just sat behind them and then launched with a lap to go," Eddy said after the race.
"I thought I had an easy win but then Bucks (Sam Buckell) came around me in the final straight, but I was just able to hold him off."
The race is the feature event of the Bendigo and District Cycling Club's two-day Christmas Carnival.
The victory was Eddy's first win in the Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheelrace and the young rising star couldn't be happier.
"It's been a really good weekend," Eddy said.
"This carnival is basically the first state open since lockdown and I can speak on behalf of everyone and say we're so happy to be back racing.
"Bendigo always put on a great carnival."
Eddy's win capped off a great weekend for Bendigo cyclists who were thrilled to be back racing after a year riddled with event interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Following the Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheelrace riders were straight back on track for the Men's Victorian 10 Mile Moto Paced Championship.
Bendigo's Isaac Buckell won the moto paced event ahead of Dietze and Eddy.
Buckell's win marks the second consecutive year winning the same event.
He also won the Men's "Aces" Keirin Final, where Dietze was second, Rogers third and Jade Maddern (Castlemaine) fourth.
Alessia McCaig (40m) won the Women's 1600m Wheelrace Final ahead of Lucinda Stewart (60m), Keely Bennett (40m) and Alyssa Polites(40m).
In the W17 A Scratch race Lilyth Jones secured first, Alana Hribar second, Belinda Bailey third and Haylee Jack fourth.
Bryce Nicholls won the M15 A Scratch race, followed by Max Goold and Hadden.
In the M17 State Scratch Race Championship Final it was Brunswick Cycling Club member Eddie Jirovec who secured the victory, followed by Radford in second and Hadden in third.
In the W17 Scratch Race Championship Final Bendigo District Cycling Club member Belinda Bailey secured the top spot on the podium, followed by Haylee Jack in second, Alana Hribar (Carnegie Caulfield Cycling Club) in third and Ava Giramondo (Brunswick Cycling Club) in fourth.
Nate Hadden won the M17 1600m Wheelrace Final ahead of Jamie Radford, Angus Gill and Reuben Smith
In the W17 1600m Wheelrace Final Haylee Jack secured first, Lauren Spagnolo second, Lilyth Jones third and Belinda Bailey fourth.
Tobias Jelbart won the M13 Scratch race, with Donni Liam in second and Omer Kermizi third.
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