DYNAMIC Mudgee rider Aiden Toovey is heading back to the Riverina to try to eclipse another major cycling title.
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A month after collecting the coveted road race-criterium double at the Wagga annual classic meet, Toovey is returning to the city to race in the renowned John Woodman Memorial on Sunday.
The 18-year-old cycling whiz was yesterday listed among the 24 scratch riders for the 135-kilometre road race from Wagga to Albury.
Starting at 10am adjacent to Jubilee Park, the Woodman Memorial takes a course through Culcairn, Walla and the Jindera gap before finishing in the border city.
The inclusion of Toovey alongside a crack team from Sydney gives the historic road event, first run as the Woodman Memorial in 1987, an added boost in quality.
Wagga cycling legend Barry O'Hagan yesterday described the Woodman Memorial field as "pretty strong" in numbers and depth of talent.
O'Hagan said entries for the Wagga to Albury race were up 25 per cent on recent years.
"Generally there are only 80 to 90 riders," he said.
"This time we've got 110 entries."
O'Hagan is adamant the strength of the "scratch men" would make for a tremendous contest over the long course.
"There's a heap of St George (club) riders coming down from Sydney," he said.
"The fact that we've got Aiden Toovey is a bonus. He won the big double here four or five weeks back, and will be a major contender again."
Significantly, last year's Woodman Memorial champion Baden Burke will not defend his title, but Nicholas Yallouris, who recorded fastest time in 2013, is set to be in the field.
A year ago Yallouris covered the 135km in 2:50.47, which was clearly superior to the times clocked by Rhys Pollack (3:04.31) in 2012 and Lee Egan (3:07.07) in 2011.
"Nick's time was pretty quick," O'Hagan quipped.
"He really gets along."
Outside of the powerful scratch riders, Wagga veteran Wayne Collingwood is regarded as a danger from the limit mark of 29 minutes, but female riders Sophie Mackay, Alexandra Nicholls and Anna Fogarty are also likely to be in the first contingent of riders to finish.
Remarkable Shepparton veteran Steve Fairless is tipped to make an impression as well.
At 51, Fairless is described by O'Hagan as "amazing".
Before racing, riders must "sign on" at the Tolland Hotel, with the limit bunch to start at 10am followed three other groups.
John Woodman Memorial
Where: Wagga to Albury (135km)
When: Sunday 10am from Jubilee Park