For the second year in a row, Australia's oldest cycling classic will be broadcast live on the big screen at the event village at the finish line on Raglan Parade.

A number of activities including food trucks, Powercor EPV Units - free 'rides', face painting, colouring wall, jumping castle and TAC Cow Bells will feature in the event village.

On Sunday more activities will take place at Warrnambool's Viaduct Road for the first year of the criteriums.

Spectators can get up close to watch the fast-paced racing whilst also taking in the picturesque views around the Warrnambool foreshore.

SATURDAY:

7.30am: Melbourne to Warrnambool departs Avalon Airport

9am: Port Campbell to Warrnambool starts

10.30am: Event village opens

11.30am: Approx handicap finish

12.30-1.30pm: Community Bike Ride

1.30pm-3.30pm: Melbourne to Warrnambool finish

SUNDAY:

8am: Masters men criterium (45 minutes race time)

9am: Elite/support women (45 minutes)

9-10am: Maremma dogs

9.12am: Kids' bike skills clinic

10am: Warrnambool Athletics Club Junior Dash (30 minutes)

10.10am: Warrnambool Athletics Club five-kilometre time trial run (15 minutes)

11am: Elite men - NRS and A grade (60 minutes)

12.15pm: Football Running Dash for Cash (15 minutes)

12.30pm: Support men (45 minutes)

Race distance: 267 kilometres

Starting in Avalon and finishing on Warrnambool's Raglan parade the 125-year-old race will this year pass through the towns of Birregurra, Timboon, Port Campbell, Peterborough and Allansford before turning into Warrnambool.

Expected finishing time: six to seven hours

The grueling ride is expected to shift based on weather conditions and the mood of the peloton (main group of riders).

In the past three years the winners have arrived in Warrnambool in under seven hours but there has also been five occasions in the last decade where the riders have exceeded seven hours in the saddle.

The race is expected to get into Warrnambool between 1.30 and 3.30pm depending on the race's speed and the weather.

Best places to catch the race:

Carter's Hill on Hopkins Point Road: This is where riders will head down the hill to cross the Hopkins River bridge after reaching speeds of close to 100km/h.

The Fletcher Jones corner: The riders turn for the home straight along Raglan Parade as they build up for what should be a bunch sprint for the finish line.

Raglan Parade: At the finishing straight, between the Liebig and Banyan street intersections, you can watch the riders battle it out to win line honours. Watch out for a triumphant celebration from the winner passing the finish line.

On the race route: The peloton will spend 6-7 hours racing from Avalon Airport to Raglan Parade, Warrnambool.

Download the Technical Guide and scroll to the last pages for a comprehensive list of times and locations of the race route or View the interactive map here.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting the weather to the temperature to be a low of 18 and a max of 23 degrees.

It is expected to be humid, cloudy with a medium (60%) chance of showers. Winds are expected to be southwesterly at 20 to 30 km/h.

Road closures will be in force at a numbers of locations on Saturday. Find out all you need to know here.

The race departs Avalon Airport and travels through Geelong, Winchelsea, Birregurra, Colac, Timboon, Port Campbell, Peterborough and Allansford before finishing in Warrnambool.

The exposure to the sea winds will also play a part between Port Campbell to Warrnambool.

On the run into Warrnambool there are a number of 90-degree turns which, if the wind is up, will throw the peloton around and set up the final stages of the race.

The long sprint up Raglan Parade, starting at Fletcher Jones corner, to the finish is still the same and will challenge the riders to hold off their attacks until the latest possible moment.

The reward at the end of the grueling 267-kilometre ride has remained the same as last year with the men's and women's winners to be given the same amount of prize money.

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