Ryan O'Donnell, Steve Dunstall, Jeremy Ryan plus Dennis and Jodie Martin have spent months on end preparing for the 228 kilometre challenge, which includes the menacing 18km climb up the Gibraltar Range.

The four male riders have entered the division two teams event while Jodie Martin is part of a select group of 15 individual women's riders.

All the D2F representatives have reason to be confident after their strong performances at the recent Bathurst Cycling Classic.

O'Donnell, Dunstall and Ryan topped the teams standings while Jodie Martin was the third woman home overall in the long course.

However, they're all more than aware that Grafton to Inverell is a completely different beast.

D2F Racing team manager Mark Simons said there's been countless hours poured into practice by the Bathurst crew.

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"It's one of the toughest event in Australia and the toughest in NSW but the B2B was a great lead up for the team and a great confidence boost for everyone. There's enough time between that and here to fine tune the training and bump the kilometres up a bit," he said.

"There's a very big climb in this race which comes about 75km into it. It goes from sea level, up the Gibraltar Range, right across the Great Diving Range then drops down into Glen Innes. Even though it looks like a descent from the top there's still a lot of little climbs along the way.

"There's been some unbelievable winners of this race in the past and it's got a great heritage. For any cyclist it's one of the bucket list rides you've got to pencil in.

"The team experience is going to be a huge benefit for Jodie and Dennis who are doing this event for the first time. The biggest goal for anyone doing this race for the first time is to simply get to the finish in good condition as fast as you can."

Dunstall put in the hard yards last year to reach the top of the ascent alongside teammate Nick North, who would go on to finish 11^th overall in the division.

Former Bathurst Cycling Club member Will Hodges will be part of the top National Road Series division for Oliver's Real Food Racing.

A classy field has been assembled, which includes 2017 winner Neil Van Der Ploeg and third place-getter Ayden Toovey of Mudgee, plus this year's Melbourne to Warrnambool winner Nicholas White.

Last year's champion Nathan Elliot is back to defend his title and will be sporting the number one.