SleepMonsters Adventure Racing

Otway Odyssey Presented By FOCUS

Entries Open; An Endless Summer of Marathon Mountain Biking and Gravel Grinding

Press Release / 11.10.2019

Riding the Otway Odyssey / © Rapid Ascent

More than 1,000 riders are expected to race on some of Australia’s best single track at the 14th annual Otway Odyssey MTB Marathon—presented by Focus. Entries for the iconic event opened at midday on Wednesday 9 October.

One of Australia’s most respected off-road cycling events, the Otway Odyssey delivers an incredible mountain bike experience for riders of all levels. Race categories are divided into of four separate course lengths—100km, 50km, 30km and 10km.

The racing for the Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind will take place on 22-23 February in 2020.

The Great Otway Gravel Grind—known colloquially as “the GOGG”—returns for its fourth year. The gravel grind format offers riders even more race options to bring any bike they want before choosing 97km or 49km ride lengths.

After its debut in 2017 as one of Australia’s first gravel grinding courses, the GOGG has grown a steady reputation among both road cyclists and off-road enthusiasts. It is a challenging but incredible journey deep into the Great Otway National Park.

Both the Odyssey and the Gravel Grind attract riders from across Australia with elite riders chasing national glory and a piece of the $10,000 prize pool. Amateur riders relish the physical challenge and kids get to hit the trails on Sunday morning with the Pioneer race.

In 2020, the off-road events will fall at the end of a massive race block including the Australian Road Championships, three UCI road races and the famed Melbourne to Warrnambool. For professional cyclists it will mark the end of one of the biggest months of the year in terms of workload.

The Odyssey is still a crowd favourite for many riders and is highly recommended for those who love adventure and awesome trails. Not forgetting the shorter courses for those getting their feet wet. The final 30 kilometres of the course are especially rewarding when ridden hard and fast. It’s the perfect amount of flow and slip and grip to make it fun for all riders.

All events start and finish amidst a huge bike expo and food festival at the Forrest Football Ground. The tracks pass through beautiful tall timber forests lined with fern trees.

“The Otway Odyssey is such a special weekend, it’s where riders from all over Australia of all backgrounds congregate to experience the thrill of racing as well as the satisfaction of conquering a personal challenge,” said race director Sam Maffett, General Manager, Rapid Ascent.

“It’s hard to not get excited about the Otway Odyssey when the trails of the Otways come alive with hundreds of racers, and the electric atmosphere at the Football Ground where spectators encourage riders as they race through the checkpoints and across the finish line. It is one of the best weekends you can have on two wheels and we can’t wait to welcome riders to Forrest for it!”

Several thousand spectators are expected to descend on the Forrest region for the two-day event in addition to participants.

The action gets underway on Saturday 22 February with the mountain bike races—the 100km Odyssey, the 50km Shorty and the 30km Rookie. The GOGG races and the kids 10km Pioneer MTB will be held on Sunday 23 February.

“Combined with the beautiful wilderness on offer in the Great Otway National Park, the electrifying race atmosphere and the sense of satisfaction you get when you finish in the middle of the massive event festival, it’s an event not to be missed,” says Race Director John Jacoby.

Entries to the 2020 Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind are now open online at www.OtwayOdyssey.com.au and www.TheGOGG.com.au.

EVENT DETAILS:

Date:                    Saturday 22 February and Sunday 23 February, 2020
Location:              Forrest, Otway National Park, Victoria
Distances: