Otway Odyssey rolls closer

FORREST will again be the focus of mountain biking next month, as the Otway Odyssey and Great Otway Gravel Grind (GOGG) returns to the Otway Ranges.

More than 600 riders have already locked in their entries to the 12th edition of the event, including four-time 100-kilometre Odyssey champion Peta Mullens and three-time 24-hour world solo champ Jessica Douglas, plus many returning competitors and first timers.

The action gets underway on February 24 with the mountain bike races – the 100-kilometre Odyssey, the 50-kilometre Shorty and the 30-kilometre Rookie, all starting and finishing at the bike expo and food festival at the Forrest Football Ground. The GOGG races and the children’s 10-kilometre Pioneer MTB will be held on February 25.

In conjunction with local ambassadors and coaches, race organiser Rapid Ascent is tackling the barriers for women wanting to take the first step into racing via a range of new “Odyssey Angels” initiatives, skills programs and support to help improve accessibility of the sport to female riders.

The initiatives include a female-only race start (for the Rookie 30-kilometre), detailed course descriptions (written by women, for women), Ride Angels to assist out on course, a Facebook group that already has 173 members, and more.

Odyssey Angels ambassador and coach Jessica Douglas said many women she had spoken to were excited about the program and the chance to race without the fears of starting with a big group.

“This simple gesture of offering support and a platform where women can dip their toes into the racing side of mountain bikes might just see them realise it is the most fun they have ever had. It is an achievable distance… the course has the right amount of challenge to provide a journey on the day that will be spoken about for weeks later.”

More than 1,500 competitors and several thousand spectators are expected to head to the Forrest region for the event.

Entries are still available. Head to rapidascent.com.au/OtwayOdyssey.