The eight-day spectacle will get under way on Boxing Day and will run across the state until January 6, 2015.

It will feature an expanded cycling stage with seven municipalities, including Meander Valley, Launceston, Latrobe, Central Coast, Devonport, Burnie and Kentish, along with four closed circuit cycling street races.

The St Helens Athletics Carnival is expected to get under way in mid-January, but St Helens  Athletics Association president Geoff Butler said the Christmas Sports Carnival’s expansion would not be a problem for East Coast riders, however.

‘‘The competition (Christmas Sports Carnival) can get right down to the wire by the time it gets over to us,’’ he said.

‘‘They absolutely love to get out there.’’

Mr Butler said there would be no change to the St Helens carnival’s schedule, but would meet with athletics association members later this year to confirm a start date for the East Coast event.

‘‘As far as we’re concerned the schedule is the same and we’re on the same calendar and dates as we have been, which is the second Saturday in January,’’ he said.

‘‘We haven’t heard that it’s going to change.

‘‘The athletes will follow the same circuit. An official date won’t be set for another couple of months at least though.’’