The rainbow jerseys awarded to cycling world champions are likely to get plenty ofe airings across Northern Tasmania courtesy of the multitude of global conquerors on show.

Jack Bobridge, adjudged rider of the series at last year’s carnivals, and fellow South Australian Glenn O’Shea, who claimed a historic clean sweep of the major wheelraces the year before, headline the field.

Victorian Leigh Howard is another of the multiple world champions, while West Australian Scott Sunderland this year added Commonwealth Games 1km time trial gold to his 2012 team sprint world title.

Amy Cure returns to her familiar stamping ground to end a year which saw her add a maiden senior world title to her four junior crowns.

Cure will be up against her regular national teammate and Commonwealth Games champion Annette Edmondson, of South Australia, along with Tasmania’s multiple junior world champs Macey Stewart and Lauren Perry.

Each of the Australian internationals will be using the series as part of their long-term build-up towards the 2016 Olympics in Brazil.

The traditionally strong contingent of overseas riders is headed by German six-day specialist Christian Grasmann, back to defend his title in last year’s inaugural criterium championships, along with compatriots Marcel Kalz and Achim Burkart, Austrian Andreas Graf and Czech Martin Hacecky

‘‘This is a seriously good world-class field,’’ said Grasmann, a veteran of nearly 60 six-day races on the gruelling European and American circuit, who heads a 68-man entry list of riders which also draws from all Australian states.

Tasmania is well represented among the criterium entries, with the Sulzberger brothers Wes and Bernard, and Burnie’s Luke Ockerby at the forefront.

Meanwhile, the women’s carnival events will be bolstered by New Zealand champions Pip Sutton, Emma Petersen and Kirstie James, plus outstanding Finnish rider Sara Ferrara.

Not to be outdone, the carnivals’ running events also have a smorgasbord of talent.

Launceston triathlete Jake Birtwhistle is ready to reprise his rivalry with Kenyan Elijah Kiptoo and his fellow African middle distance specialists while Andrew Robinson, Jesse Usoalii, Jacob Despard and Jack Hale top a sensational list of home-state sprinters.

Victorians Matt Carter and Luke Stevens loom as the strongest mainland threat.

The $20,000 criterium series will commence with a 30-lap twilight sizzler at Westbury’s Village Green on Boxing Day.

Ulverstone will follow on Monday, December 29, then Burnie on New Year’s Eve and Sheffield on Friday, January 2.

The carnivals campaign begins at the Silverdome on Saturday and concludes at Burnie’s West Park on New Year’s Day.

2013 WINNERS:

LATROBE

Men’s Wheel: Franco Marvulli (30m)

Women’s Wheel: Macey Stewart (110m) 2:24

Men’s Gift: John Howe (7.5m)

Women’s Gift: Ashleigh Corbett (7m)

LAUNCESTON

Men’s Wheel: Jack Bobridge (scr)

Women’s Wheel: Daniel McKinnirey (110m)

DEVONPORT

Men’s Wheel: Hamish Youl (270m)

Mersey Wheel: Sam Lane (160m)

Women’s Wheel: Amy Cure (scr)

Men’s Gift: Andrew Robinson (15m)

Women’s Gift: Maddy Scott (25m)

BURNIE

Men’s Wheel: Not held

Women’s Wheel: Not held

Men’s Gift: Adam Coote (9.5m)

Women’s Gift: Cara Boustead (12m)