To date, Jamie Drew is the only rider who has won the great race twice, but not back-to-back, as Lake will try to. Mal Rudolph has also won the event before and is looking for another win.

So, there are two previous winners in the field as well as 10 National Road Series (NRS) teams and almost 200 competitors across the board, and with the event less than a week away, it is all systems go for the toughest one-day stage race in the state, if not the country.

Grafton to Inverell committee spokesman Peter Sunderland said the 2015 edition would be every bit as exciting and competitive as those which came before it.

“As defending champion, Lake, who rides for the African Wildlife Safari’s team, will be wearing number one for the race. And he will, of course, be a marked man.” Sunderland said.

“Being the final NRS event for the year means the riders will be pulling out all stops in the A grade event to grab as many points as they can for themselves and their teams.

“As well, we have two grades of club level and masters enthusiasts, which was open to women for the first time in a number of years, taking on the mountain.”

Lake sits in the top 10 on the NRS aggregate and his team is in third spot. Paddy Bevan from Avanti racing is leading the individual standings, and Avanti Racing have a slender 1 point lead over Charter Mason in the team’s rankings.

Weather forecasts for Saturday’s Grafton to Inverell Cycle Classic indicate near perfect conditions for the 55th staging of the race.

With a top temperature of 25 degrees and sunny skies for both Grafton and Inverell, riders should relish the ideal race conditions. Along with the mild temperatures, light winds from NNE will benefit the riders.

Later the winds are predicted to turn to WNW, but will continue to be light.

Race organisers believe this will result in a much faster pace than last year, which saw the field battle strong westerlies and 36 degree heat.

Organising committee member Peter Sunderland predicted the A grade National Road Series race should complete the course in around six hours and 10 minutes.

“If we have an aggressive race we could see the field come home in the fastest time since the race record of six hours 21seconds that was set in 2011.”