MURWILLUMBAH Cycle Club president, Dennis Burger, is delighted with the number of entries received for next Saturday's historic Tyalgum Cup and now, along with the rest of the organisers, is keeping his fingers crossed that the skies don't open up as they did a fortnight back, causing flooding which forced the postponement of the event on Australia Day.

Two hundred and ten cyclists ranging from juniors through to elite men and women pedlars will contest seven grades around the picturesque 55km course.

"We had 190 entries for the race on Australia Day and then had 18 drop out when we programmed it for next Saturday," Mr Burger said.

"But then the entries were given a big boost when another 40 riders decided to compete."

The course takes them from the start in Main Street east out to Butlers Road where the field makes a U-turn and rides back through Tyalgum and out along Tyalgum Road through Eungella to the Old Lismore Road.

Another U-turn will see the field return to Tyalgum and then head south along Brays Creek Road to do another U-turn at Back Creek Road and finally head to the finish line in Tyalgum.

Presentations will be held in Memorial Park when the last of the cyclists complete the course.

Race organiser, Peter McMahon, expects the elite men to complete the course in "around 80 minutes" and the tailenders to reach the finish about an hour or so later.

The big field will be set on its way at 2.30pm.

Mr McMahon says last year's overall winner, John Cantwell, will not be back to defend his title after securing a professional contract which sees him racing in Europe this year.

"However we have a strong starting line-up in the elite men's and it will once again be a very hotly-contested grade," Mr McMahon said.