Parsons makes his race debut after a lengthy break from cycling and will carry the No.1 saddlecloth in a field of 107 riders.

One of six scratch riders in the 72km handicap race, he will draw on a wealth of top-level open experience from the Herald Sun Tour and Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic during the 1990s and early '00s.

One of three Warrnambool Cycling Club members in the scratch bunch, Parsons will have the company of Richie Belleville and Brian McNamara, as well as Peter Ferrie, of Northern Vets, Roy Clark and Guy Green, of Eastern Vets.

Parsons, 37, has made a low-key return to the sport after a five-year break .

After 12 months of mountain bike riding he got back on a road bike in December last year and started racing in July.

A top-10 finish in the Victorian 100km Road Cycling Championship at Port Fairy on July 12 signalled he was still competitive at open level.

"I've been doing both vets and open events," Parsons said yesterday.

"I'm having a lot of fun. I just race when I feel like it and there's no pressure any more."

Parsons said he had done enough training for the Melbourne to Warrnambool, which is on the same day as the Camperdown to Warrnambool, "but I made a conscious decision: 261km or 72km," he said.

"I love the vets races. With the backmarkers, there's not a lot of difference from open races."

Parsons rode in 12 Melbourne to Warrnambools, claiming five top-10 finishes, and 10 Herald Sun Tours.

Camperdown to Warrnambool race director Tom Finning yesterday said he was pleased with the response of cyclists, despite a fall in numbers from 119 last year.

"It's a good field," he said. "A few of the backmarkers are riding in the Melbourne to Warrnambool."

Finning said strong winning chances were spread throughout the handicap bunches.

They include Shepparton sprinter Ivan Howes in the 11-minute group and John Clift, of Geelong, who will start with a 15-minute advantage.

Defending champion Terry Collie, of Ballarat, is in the 11-minute bunch.

Mandy Hosking, a placegetter last year, is one of eight women contesting the race.