Entries open to Otway Odyssey

ENTRIES for next year’s Otway Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon and the Great Otway Gravel Grind have opened.

After this year’s record-breaking event in Forrest, it is anticipated that entry demand will continue to surge as the event nears its 20th anniversary.

“18 years ago the Otway Odyssey was but a dream – and here we are now with one of the most prestigious MTB events in Australia,” Rapid Ascent general manager Sam Maffett said

Maffet and Rapid Ascent co-owner John Jacoby carefully craft each course to encompass the best of the mountain bike trails synonymous with the Forrest area.

“We deliberately engineered the Odyssey courses to be tough, particularly the 100km route,” Jacoby said.

“It serves as a genuine trial of skill and endurance, encompassing a plethora of flowing single track, unexplored segments, heart-racing descents, and the quintessential challenge of our signature lung-busting climbs.”

The acclaimed cross-country riding destination of Forrest will play host to the Odyssey MTB courses with the revamped trails in Forrest to again play a key feature on each course, as introduced at the 2023 edition of the race.

Set against the backdrop of the Otway Ranges, competitors will be challenged with exhilarating uphill battles and equally rewarding downhill descents, designed to test the mettle of a wide range of riders ranging from world champions to weekend warriors alike.

The Otway Odyssey will be headlined by the premier 100km mountain bike course, along with 50km, 30km and 10km MTB races, as well as the “Grommets ride” specially designed for kids.

History-making seven-time Otway Odyssey title holder Peta Mullens is keen to return to the event in 2024.

“It’s my favourite MTB marathon,” she said.

“Challenging, tough and full of single track; and I think my consistency on the course pays off!”

Complementing the MTB races is the Great Otway Gravel Grind, referred to as “the GOGG.” This year marks its eighth edition, featuring both 97km and 49km course options.

The gravel grind races traverse the smooth, undulating dirt roads woven throughout the Otway Ranges encircling Forrest with participants being treated to panoramic vistas of the Great Ocean Road region.

The well-received “time-out zones” are a staple of the ride, affording riders the opportunity to pause for coffee breaks and rendezvous with friends without affecting their official race times.

“It’s such a beautiful course; I took advantage of the untimed sections for a break with a coffee and a muffin, and I just loved that aspect,” former 49km gravel grind winner Lachlan McDonald said.

Next year will see the continuation of the Odyssey Angel’s program, started in 2017.

The program is dedicated to fostering female riders’ involvement in off-road events, offering several engaging initiatives.

All races start and finish amid a huge bike expo and food festival at the Forrest Football Ground.

“Thank you to everyone who continues to support the Odyssey and Gravel Grind events with us; and to the locals of Forrest who regularly dedicate their time to helping maintain these epic trails,” Maffett said.

Entries to the 2024 Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind are now open online at OtwayOdyssey.com.au and TheGOGG.com.au respectively.