Strong entries indicate big fields for Australia's toughest one-day cycle race, Grafton to Inverell (G2I), on May 11.
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As the third round of Cycling Australia's National Road Series (NRS) for men, familiar names will appear on competitor lists.
Event director Chris Thompson said early favourites included the likes of Inverell's Dylan Sunderland and Ryan Thomas.
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Sunderland, riding with team Bridgelane, recently finished second in NRS round two at the Brisbane Classic.
"Dylan won the Tour of Tasmania last year and placed fifth in the Australian National Road Race Championships this year.
"He has the support of an extremely strong team including 2017 G2I winner and race record holder Neil Van Der Ploeg, 2017 third place-getter Ayden Toovey, 2019 Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Nicholar White, and former New Zealand road race and time trial champion and NRS champion Joe Cooper."
Thomas, riding for the Drapac Cannondale Holistic Development Team, will be looking for a strong performance.
As a consistent finisher, Thompson said the local was usually in the mix at the pointy end of the race.
"Another hot favourite will be last year's winner Nathan Elliot, of Inform Make, who has also finished on the G2I podium on two other occasions.
"He is also a two-time winner of the Melbourne to Warrnambool Classic."
Other Inverell riders include: Brent Rees (division one), Zak Sunderland, Alwyn Miller, Callum Dolby (division two, and Codie Miller (division three).
Female riders of the des Femmes will see an increase in prize money and an addition of a Queen of the Mountain Classification.
The G2I gives women an equal opportunity to take on the exact same 228 kilometre distance as the men, starting with the division three category.
"Emma Pratt, the sister of last year's winner Cathy Reardon, will make her return to racing in the toughest race on the Australian racing calendar."
Current entries indicate big fields in the men's division two and three races.
Thompson said a 600 metre section of dirt 15 kilometres out of Grafton due to road works, will make the race a bit tougher for competitors this year.
For more information about the upcoming event, head to the website www.graftontoinverell.com.au.
