IT\u2019S been a decade since a Bendigo-raised cyclist has won the Bendigo International Madison.<\/p>\n
This Sunday night Blake Agnoletto will aim to break the home-track drought when he teams with Oliver Bleddyn in the 200-lap showdown from 8.15pm.<\/p>\n
The reigning national madison champion after December\u2019s success with Kell O\u2019Brien in Melbourne, Agnoletto carries plenty of expectations into the 50th running of the classic at Tom Flood Sports Centre.<\/p>\n
Moves by Agnoletto and Bleddyn will be closely watched by their 24 rivals and thousands of fans.<\/p>\n
They teamed up the madison at last month\u2019s UCI Tissot Nations Cup round in Adelaide.<\/p>\n
\u201cRacing in Bendigo is so different to the velodromes of Adelaide or Melbourne,\u201d Agnoletto said.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s not just the 400-plus metres distance of the Bendigo track, but also outdoor conditions and much lower banking on the curves.<\/p>\n
Although he has rarely raced at home in the past couple of years, Agnoletto has shone each time.<\/p>\n
A great run at the Bendigo leg of the latest Christmas carnivals included another Lindsay Harrington Memorial Wheelrace victory.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be racing before a home crowd and in such a big event is something I am really looking forward to,\u201d Agnoletto said.<\/p>\n
Key challengers in Agnoletto and Bleddyn\u2019s quest for glory are reigning champion Conor Leahy who teams with Graeme Frislie.<\/p>\n
The international charge is led by Germany\u2019s Moritz Augenstein and Moritz Malcharek, and New Zealand\u2019s James Gardner and Bailey O\u2019Donnell.<\/p>\n
Fans will cheer on Bendigo\u2019s Josh Clarke and Curtis Harrison in their BIM debut.<\/p>\n
Back in 2014 it was Bendigo\u2019s own Sam Crome who teamed with Dutch ace Roy Pieters to mark one of the biggest boilovers in BIM history.<\/p>\n
An action-packed night of cycling on Sunday includes the women\u2019s madison from 6.50pm.<\/p>\n
A field of 10 teams will race 70 laps.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s the all-Bendigo team of rising stars Belinda Bailey and Lilyth Jones, and clubmates Milana Freer and Haylee Jack who are in the showdown.<\/p>\n
Highs of Saturday night\u2019s cycling program include the Golden Mile Wheelrace, Bill McLachlan Memorial aces scratch race over 20 laps.<\/p>\n
The two-day athletics-cycling carnival starts at 1.30pm on Saturday.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
IT\u2019S been a decade since a Bendigo-raised cyclist has won the Bendigo International Madison. This Sunday night Blake Agnoletto will aim to break the home-track drought when he teams with Oliver Bleddyn in the 200-lap showdown from 8.15pm. The reigning national madison champion after December\u2019s success with Kell O\u2019Brien in Melbourne, Agnoletto carries plenty of […]<\/p>\n