The three-day, four-stage cycling event, which tests riders on a variety of terrain and circuits, has grown exponentially since King Valley winemaker and keen cyclist Sam Miranda founded it a decade ago.

The 2016 Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley from August 19 to 21 includes the Strade Nero Road Race VRS and Sam Miranda Gran Fondo.

The Stage 2 Criterium in Wangaratta on Friday was cancelled due to the inclement weather.

Event director Marty Tobin said the 10^th year of the Sam Miranda Tour of the King Valley and ninth edition had attracted 1400 entries.

He said it was on par with entries in 2015 but represented a monumental rise on the first race.

“We got 98 entries in the first year and were really bummed we didn’t get 100,” Mr Tobin said.

“Now we’re bummed if we don’t get 1000.”

Entries came from every state in Australia, New Zealand, Kenya, the United States, Singapore and Malaysia; there are a record 300 entries in the Gran Fondo this year.

Mr Tobin said the Stage 2 Criterium – a 1.3-kilometre circuit through the heart of Wangaratta – was cancelled on Friday due to the wet and slippery conditions.

“The greasy roads and heavy rain made the conditions treacherous,” Mr Tobin said.

“Rider safety is paramount so that stage was cancelled.”

As of Friday, the weekend’s racing program remained unchanged.

On Saturday Sam Miranda King Valley cellar door restaurant will host the second annual Baker IDI Dinner and Charity Auction in conjunction with the bike races.

During the four-course dinner there will be a special live cross to Melbourne commentator Matthew Keenan, who will be calling the action at the Vuelta Espana in Spain.

The Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute is an independent medical research organisation in Melbourne.

Money raised at the Baker IDI charity auction will fund Baker IDI’s promotion and awareness of cardiac disease and diabetes research.

Last year’s auction raised more than $5000 with a target of $10,000 in 2016.