It's the most wonderful time of the year for central Victorian cyclists.
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Starting on Tuesday at Castlemaine is the first leg of a three-day Christmas Track Carnival which then heads to Bendigo on Wednesday before the final meet on Thursday at Shepparton.
Castlemaine Cycling Club representative and race organiser Ken Maddern said it was an exciting time of the year for regional Victorian riders.
"It's always a thrill to host a bike race," he said.
"It's huge for our club to be the first of the three as it's the start of an exciting three days of racing.
"Cyclists are able to blow away the cobwebs after Christmas pudding and will be eager to secure great rides and results."
More sport:
Among the events at the Smartline-backed event at the Castlemaine Velodrome on Tuesday includes several state titles.
There will be under-17 men's and women's Madison State Championships, under-19 elite Keirin events and several other wheel races.
Juniors will be the first on track at 10am, followed by the Open and under-17 Madison events from 3.30pm.
Straight after the Castlemaine meet on Tuesday, riders will have a quick turnaround before they are back on track the next day at the Tom Flood Sports Centre for the Bendigo and District Cycling Club's Christmas Track Carnival.
The feature event of the Bendigo meet is none other than the 2000m Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheel Race - named in honour of one of the club's life members.
Lindsay Harrington's involvement with cycling started in 1982 after his sons Terry and Jamie took up the sport.
He eventually went on to coach his sons, with cycling becoming the family sport.
After years of work across a range of roles, Lindsay Harrington was made a life member of the Bendigo and District Cycling Club in 1990.
BDCC's Noel Sens said the carnival also provided juniors with the opportunity to show their skills on the track.
"This year we have so many up-and-coming juniors who will be in action," Sens said.
"Nate Hadden, Angus Gill and Lilyth Jones are all rising the ranks and have great potential to win."
The action on Wednesday starts at 2pm for the juniors before senior riders hit the track from 5pm.
Other races at Bendigo include under-15 State Championships, under-17 Scratch State Championships, the Godfrey Family Omnium, 10-Mile Motor Pace, Women's 1600m Wheel Race and the Men's Keirin.
Riders will then head to Shepparton on Thursday for the final meet of the three-day track carnival.
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