Pros gather for big weekend in Noosa

The annual Noosa Triathlon Multi Sport Festival this weekend is set to be an even bigger festival than usual, with the announcement of the inaugural Cannibal Women's Grand Prix cycling event added to the carnival. As the event celebrates its 25th year, women's racing has been added to the 'hot dog' course, with the riders expected to take on 30 minutes plus three laps of racing this Saturday, November 3.

Contesting the race will be Olympic road race champion Sara Carrigan, AIS riders Alexis Rhodes and Lorian Graham and former triathletes turned professional cyclists Nikki Egyed (Raleigh Lifeforce Creation) and Josie Loane (AIS). The women will vie for some $5,000 in prize money at the weekend's event.

The men's criterium race will again feature at the famed triathlon event, with the star-studded field set to contest the Ridley's Dash for Cash, with a $50,000, winner takes all, prize on the line.

Contesting the men's event is three time winner of the prestigious green jersey in the Tour de France Robbie McEwen, defending champion and two time Noosa winner Allan Davis, 2003 Tour de France green jersey winner Baden Cooke, former Discovery Channel rider Matt White and Henk Vogels.

This year's Herald Sun Tour winner Matt Wilson is mounting a challenge for the massive cash prize and brining his Unibet.com team-mate Cooke as well as Briton Jeremy Hunt and Frenchman Jimmy Casper.

Vogels won't be the only Aussie export to America's National Racing Calendar teams on display this weekend. The likeable Vogels will be joined by Hilton Clarke, Ben Day and Trent Wilson in the one hour plus three lap event.