Jongewaard is looking to rebound after being controversially dropped from the Australian team for the Olympics for the second time in four years.

Australia's top-ranked mountain biker was left out of the team for Beijing because he is facing criminal charges arising from an alleged hit-and-run incident near Adelaide in February last year.

It is the second time the 29-year-old has been selected for an Olympic Games, only to be axed.

He was chosen for Athens 2004, but later omitted in favour of Josh Flemming, who successfully appealed to a performance panel tribunal after being originally overlooked.

"My disappointment has really hit home, but I can't cry forever," Jongewaard said.

"I've got some unfinished business to do and that will start in Ballarat in the grand prix."

And as far as Jongewaard is concerned, Ballarat is the ideal place to relaunch his career.

Jongewaard described the Ballarat courses as "awesome".

"I love the place," he said. The Australian Cycling Grand Prix is in its third year.

The carnival, which incorporates the Victorian Open Road Cycling Championships for men and women, features time trials at Learmonth tomorrow, criteriums in Ballarat's central business district on Saturday and road race at Buninyong on Sunday.

More than 300 entries have been received across the board.

Grand prix director John Craven, of Caribou Publications, is excited by the volume and quality of entries for the three days.

"They're sensational."

He said outside the best-of-the-best at the Olympics and some overseas-based professionals, the best cycling talent Australia had to offer would be on show in Ballarat.

Jongewaard will be the fourth-last rider away in the time trial over 38.5km tomorrow, with only West Australian Benjamin King, Tim Roe (SA) and top-seed Bernard Sulzberger from Tasmania to follow.

Craven said the Australian Cycling Grand Prix had quickly become highly regarded in the cycling community.

It is the second leg of the four-race Scody Cup series, which also includes the Tour of Gippsland, Tour of the Murray and Tour of Tasmania.