The Albury-Wodonga contingent will be led by 2010 winner Stephen Kilpatrick, and also includes two-time Tour of Two Rivers winner Brendan Washington, as well as Aaron Last, Zac Drury, David Mann, Declan Dempster, Jessica Laws, Jodi Uphill and Jamie Ruddy.

Uphill will attempt to win her second big race in a month after clinching the Shepparton $1000 Ladies Silver Bracelet Wheelrace in December, only two years after taking up the sport.

The rider Uphill beat for the title, Footscray Cycling Club member Hannah Bush, will also start in heat No.2.

Washington, Albury-Wodonga Cycling Club’s development team co-ordinator, said there was a strong possibility of a woman rider taking out the event.

“It’s one of those unique events where the women race with the men in the Wheelrace,” he said.

“This year will see the strongest possibility of a female rider winning the Wheelrace with several strong entries headed up by La Trobe City Cycling Club’s Shannon McCurley and Bendigo and District’s Beth Duryea riding from the outer handicap marks.”

Washington said the Border would be sending a strong contingent of juniors to the event.

“There will be several junior riders taking part including Kirsty Deacon, Sophia Drury, Liam McAllister, Ryan Allen, Sebastian Laws and Ruth and Nahum Little,” he said.

“We’ve got some pretty talented under-17 kids and with the senior guys Aaron Last is going well.

“Steve Kilpatrick has won the Wheelrace before.

“There’s a few of us riding together so we should have some strength in numbers.

“It’s one of those events that there’s something special about racing at Wangaratta.

“It’s a great atmosphere and has been running since about the 1920s.

“As far as I know there are only two from Albury-Wodonga who have won it, Stephen Kilpatrick and Greg Featonby.”

The Wangaratta Gift will be at 9.15pm and the Wheelrace at 10pm, both under the new lights at the complex.