Hundreds shift gears on the Surf Coast

MORE than 250 racers put the pedal to the metal over the weekend in the annual Shifty Fifty biking extravaganza.

The event in Anglesea saw riders navigate the endless flowy trails of the Surf Coast network across three racing disciplines.

The marquee Shifty Fifty 50km race was taken out by Daniel Braunsteins and Katriina Downer in times of 2:00:57 and 2:21:19 respectively.

Mark Mathews and Bridgette Furphy were victorious in the Open Male and Open Women divisions of the Shifty Shorty 25km course.

The 10km event was won by George Kent and Phillipa Briglia.

Event organiser Brett Coleman from the Surf Coast Mountain Bike Club said it was a fantastic day out for all involved.

“It was such a beautiful day, perfect weather which you would have wanted to script. I think most people would have been stoked with it.

“The vast majority of entrants did the 50km, 17 per cent probably did the 25km and about 12 starters did

the 10km.

“The trails held up very nicely. Everyone seemed to love them and love the course, which we mixed up a bit from previous years.”

Mr Coleman said the event will likely have raised more than $10,000 for the club.

All the raised at the event will go back into the upkeep of the Surf Coast Trail network and neighbouring biking routes.

“There are no immediate things that need to be done, but mostly it’ll be making the trails a bit firmer.

“A lot of it will also go into improving certain features and drainage.

“One of the biggest things with trails is keeping water off them because that’s what causes erosion and makes them unsustainable.

“The funds will be incredibly useful for these types of things going forward.”

Race organisers have said the Shifty Fifty will return on May 9, 2026.

For full event results, head to bighillevents.com.au/events/shifty-fifty-rd-3-surf-coast-50