THE showpiece of Ballarat’s first cycling festival was officially launched yesterday, and promises to put on a weekend filled with fun and fitness next February.The 2012 Ballarat Spokes Cycle Classic will take centre stage during the much anticipated Spokes Festival, which includes Madison and mountain bike enduro events, along with a BMX pro-am in which top ranked Australians are likely to take part.The new format, which for the first time occupies an entire weekend, aims to attract more than 2000 riders from across the country while also hoping to raise more than $200,000 for the Ballarat Cancer Research Centre.Event co-ordinator Nick Sculley said Ballarat could expect to be inundated with visitors over the weekend.“We’re hoping to have about 4000 or 5000 spectators in Ballarat which can only mean good things for the hotels and landmarks,” he said. “And the more people that come in, the more likely they are to come back again.”In the past four years, the event has raised more than $450,000 for BCRC, and is the only event open to the public that offers riders the opportunity to complete the challenging Australian National Road Cycling course – where 2011 Tour de France winner Cadel Evans has competed.Football identities Billy Brownless and Danny Frawley are both expected to take part in the event. All money raised will go to the BCRC.Entries for the February 11 and 12 event are now open. To register, go to www.ballaratcycleclassic.com.au.