The Cape to Cape turns 15 this year, can you believe it! The little stage race in Margaret River has come such a long way over the years, and now it’s almost old enough to drive — crazy!
Following Reef to Reef, there was some big news: Ironman — who own Reef to Reef, Port to Port and Cape to Cape — had sold the first two races to EMS, the outfit that runs the Tassie EDR stops.
With 15 years of past races to pull from, the Cape to Cape team has pulled the best singletrack to build this year’s course. It will look familiar to those who raced last year as the stages hit the same locations — albeit with a few adjustments.
“We’re super excited to be celebrating 15 years of Cape to Cape in 2023! It’s hard to believe the event has been around for this long, from just a handful of riders back in 2008 to becoming Australia’s largest MTB Stage Race has been an epic journey,” says Devon Beckman from Ironman.
With that, each night the event team will be hosting a get-together at the Settlers Tavern in Margaret River, have a yarn, share some war stories and a enjoy couple of bevvies each day after the race.
Related:
- Life Before and After Cape to Cape MTB | Here’s Our Pick of Things To Do
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Happy Birthday Cape to Cape | 2023 Course Preview
While this year’s event will hit all of the same locations as last year, Jason Dover and Michale Brooks, who have been designing the courses since the beginning, have drawn on that decade and a half of experience to put together what looks to be another ripper.
Stage 1 | Cape Leeuwin | 36km, 790m Vert
Cape to Cape wouldn’t be Cape to Cape without the start at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, and the race will once again kick off at the most Southwestern point in Australia. Covering a little less in both distance and vert than last year with 36km and 790m of climbing, Skippy Rock Road is a major feature on the way out and back.
With a leg-burning climb right from the start, there is no need for any sort of prologue or short stage to organise riders into waves based on their speed and fitness — the hill does that all on its own. Don’t go too hard today, there is still a big few days ahead.
According to the event team, there are a few new alignments and the brutal up/down/up section of the course that cracked a good portion of the field in years past is no more, but beyond that, it’s more or less a carbon copy of 2022.
As the conditions can be extraordinarily changeable at the lighthouse, presentations for Stage 1 are back at the Settlers Tavern.
Stage 2 | Boranup | 55km, 550m Vert
You can’t go to Margaret River without visiting a winery, and so the spectacular Mr Barval Fine Wines serves as the start and finish venue for stage two — which the event team is calling the Queen Stage for this year.
Heading into Boranup Forest, the landscape is quickly recovering from the bushfires that ripped through here in 2021. While the tunnels of green underbrush aren’t much more than knee-high, the old-school trails are as good as ever.
But stage two is one of contrasts, and the route returns to the Highway to Hell. Wide open and exposed, this section of the course runs along the coastline, with epic views of Conto’s Beach. While the descent down to the Highway to Hell is epic, be wary of the climb back out, it’s a tough one, but it’s not far from the finish.
That said, this year’s course has been re-routed around some of the super sections that gave folks trouble in 2022.
Then it’s back to Mr Barval, for some Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay.
Stage 3 | Margaret River| 51km, 550m Vert
Stage three is always a fan favourite, not just for the singletrack but also the start/finish at Colonial Brewing Co!
It’s been a few years since the Cape to Cape has Visited CBCo, and the course will be reminiscent of the 2021 race — which the event crew refer to as the “Margaret River Special Stage” — where folks were asking if they could do another lap at the finish.
Taking in the beautifully sculpted berms and jumps at Compartment 10, the course also takes folks for a guided tour in the varied trails of The Pines.
The Margaret River Off-Road Cycling Association has been hard at work prepping the trails for the event, and we hear there’s even a few new ones on the agenda.
This is a singletrack-heavy stage, and the first 10km is quick, which should string out the field a bit. However, bottlenecks do happen, and the event team is reminding folks to be patient, call out if they want to pass, and be respectful of faster riders behind you — everybody is there to have fun after all.
This is another big day on the bike with 51km to cover, fortunately, there will be a cold brewski and a burger waiting for you at CBCo — be sure to try the South West Sour.
Stage 4 | Cape Naturaliste | 36km, 620m Vert
Making up the second Cape, in Cape to Cape, the finale of the 15th edition of the race takes riders to Cape Naturaliste.
While it may only be 36km, this is a punchy stage, so hopefully you have something left in the reserve tank to finish strong.
Starting at Wise Wines, the course heads for the coast to give you a glimpse of Eagle Bay. Watch the pea gravel around these parts it can make for some brown bike pants moments. Then it’s straight into the trails at Zone 6 and a rip through the Golf Course in Dunsborough for corner, after corner, after corner, after corner…after corner. Once you simply can’t shred another berm, it’s a mad dash back to Wise Wine to crown the winners of the 15th edition of the Cape to Cape!
Cape to Cape is adaptive friendly!
The course for Cape to Cape has been designed to be adaptive friendly, meaning folks on handcycles can enjoy all four stages.
There are a few sections that require diversions to avoid really tight bits of singletrack and log rollovers, but the course team has done its best to ensure everybody has a blast and gets to ride sick trails.
What to expect in the race village?
With three of the four stages starting and finishing at venues known for their mastery of fermentation, it’s a safe bet there will be plenty of beverages — both adult and not-so-adult — flowing at the race village. CBCo is the official drinks partner and will be providing “rehydration” the end of each stage.
You can also expect food trucks or catering from the venues — we hear the wineries put on quite a spread — and the race village also has massage tents to ensure you’re nice and limber for the next stage.
Bike Dr will once again provide mechanical support at the race village, and you can also book a free race check at its CBD workshop to ensure nothing has gone awry in transit.
For $20 AUD per stage, the Bike Dr crew will clean and lube your steed, and make sure there aren’t any pivot bolts that have rattled loose or noisy gears. If you’d like to look after your own bike maintenance, there’s also DIY bike wash facilities available every day.
Super Sox Saturday
Bike Dr is more than just a run of the mill local shop, it also runs a community good program called Bike Rescue. This youth development initiative sees participants strip and fully rebuild two bikes — the first is donated to charity, while the second is for the budding mechanic to keep.
These same Bike Rescue participants have been offered paid work to help with the mechanical support and the clean and lube service at the race.
All of the money from the bike cleaning service goes towards this program, and Bike Dr will also be selling fluro socks for Super Sox Saturday.
Who can race?
The most exciting aspect of the Epic Series races is the pairs racing, but there’s also solo men’s and women’s categories for riders who were born the year the Cape to Cape started, all the way to 60+.
The overall winners of the Cape to Cape is awarded the James Williamson Medal, in honour of its namesake, who was the biggest advocate for the race and sadly passed away at the 2010 Cape Epic.
Cape to Cape also has the Beacon Award, which is presented to an individual who exemplifies the culture and spirit of Cape to Cape. This award pays homage to friend of the race, Johnny Waddell, who overcame a serious injury, and is now back on the bike against all odds.
How to enter?
With the race quickly approaching, giddy up and head over to the Cape to Cape website to sign up! And after you do, check out Tali Lane-Welsh’s top tips for prepping your bike for Cape to Cape and our recommendations on what to do before and after the race.
Photos: TBS Photography / Daniela Tommasi