The cream of Australian cycling will contest the blue ribbon track events.

Multiple world champions are again set to grace the boards headlined by reigning Launceston Wheel champion 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.

Victorian Leigh Howard and West Australian Scott Sunderland also bring world titles to the table, along with the Tasmanian stable of Amy Cure, Macey Stewart and Lauren Perry.

Jacob Birtwhistle represents the future of Tasmanian sport and the triathlon junior world championship silver medallist is looking forward to reprising his rivalry with a host of African middle distance runners.

The invitation mile run proved one of the highlights of last year’s carnival and the concept was swiftly installed for a repeat this year, again being billed as Tassie versus Kenya and due at 7.40pm.

Meanwhile veterans of carnivals past will be able to indulge in some unashamed nostalgia when two icons of the historic series go head to head at 8.30pm.

Axeman David Foster and cyclist Danny Clark cut their teeth in the historic events and will stage a head-to-head contest midway through the evening’s program to mark the carnival’s 30th anniversary.

Foster, a multiple woodchopping world champ, will attempt to cut a 300-millimetre log before Clark, winner of the Launceston Wheel in 1986, completes a one-lap dash.

Cycling heats and junior races will be held in the afternoon session before the 3-half hour main program begins at 6pm with the wheel race finals due shortly after 8pm.

The program has been brought forward from previous years to make the overall package more family-friendly and enable younger cycling fans to be able to enjoy the action.