Seventy-six riders will contest the state title, including some from as far as South Australia, Queensland and New Zealand.

PFCC secretary Jeff McLean said competitors would complete a 2.5km circuit which starts in Campbell Street at Southcombe Park Stadium.

"It goes along Ocean Drive, so it's quite a nice setting," McLean said.

"We haven't had too much wind lately but the forecast for the weekend doesn't look too flash."

South-west cyclists vying for the title include PFCC members Luke Aggett, David Tozer and Simon Walsh, Warrnambool Cycling Club's Garry Parsons and Colac Cycling Club's David Lunn.

The top-rated competitor from the region is Hamilton's Brendan Schultz.

Sam Witmitz, from Horsham, is returning to defend his title while Paul Anders - previously of Port Fairy but now a Footscray Cycling Club member - is looking to add to his 2000 championship.

Also expected to perform well is Ballarat's Patrick Shaw, who is fresh from a victory in the inaugural three-day Tour of Toowoomba.

Categories for the state 100km championship include elite men, men 19 and masters men, while there also also several support criteriums.

McLean said numerous riders in Sunday's 40-lap championship would be backing up from tomorrow, when Hamilton Cycling Club hosts the 61st annual Cecil Shore Memorial.

The 120km handicapped race starts at the Caledonian Hotel/Motel, on the corner of Thompson and Lonsdale Street.

There are 17 scratch riders.

Competitors head to Cavendish before returning to Hamilton, then via Byaduk to Macarthur and back to Hamilton.

While tomorrow's race starts at 12.30pm, Sunday's championship begins at 11am.

A local junior support event on Sunday will start at 10am.