Cape to Cape (C2C) is Australia’s biggest mass-participation mountain bike stage race and has been providing good times and great vibes since 2008 for a range of riders, from first-timers to mountain bike Olympians. I’ve personally raced or attended seven editions of the event, and every year, it’s a highlight on the calendar.
For this year’s edition, the new Perth-based team, EventMatrix, has introduced an e-Bike category to adapt to the increased popularity of the category. C2C has always been an inclusive and welcoming event for all.
Adding in the e-MTB category seems like a logical step given the current purchasing trends and the desire of folks to use the bikes they have in their garage. Running this category, allows more riders to get involved in one of the most fun MTB stage races in Australia.
Here are my tips and tricks for taking on Cape to Cape with an e-MTB
What is Cape to Cape?
Here are the high-level details of C2C. It’s a 4-day stage race in Margaret River, Western Australia. It covers roughly 50 km per day and 200 km in total. There is also a single 1-day event this year called the ‘Mini’.
C2C is like an expertly balanced cocktail with all the right ingredients. There’s a good mix of singletrack and dirt roads. Each stage starts and finishes at wineries, breweries, or unique locations.
There are heaps of activities to enjoy after a day of racing, white sandy beaches for a recovery swim, and all of this with over 1,000 enthusiastic people ready to take on the challenge!
C2C has always been a place where first-timers can push themselves to achieve satisfaction through physical challenges. With the rise of e-Bikes, it allows people to get involved, reduce the physical challenge slightly, and make it even more achievable.
If you’re keen on more details on this year’s Cape to Cape and to meet the new faces at the helm of the event, check out our detailed event preview.
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What is e-MTB Racing?
As a category e-MTB racing is so new, and it’s still evolving. Initially, e-MTB was seen as a category for people who couldn’t ride a normal bike due to age, injury or other factors. That’s exactly how I first got into it, but then everybody realised how much fun these bikes could be, hence why they’ve gained so much popularity.
I was recovering from a broken femur after a big MTB crash and thought it was a good idea to enter the e-MTB category while I only had one functional leg. I did a 50 km race and ran out of battery 40 km in. But things have changed a lot in recent years.
e-MTB racing is just like normal MTB racing, but arguably more fun! I’ve done a range of races, from XCO national championships to the Shifty Fifty series, and at face value, the hills are easier, and with the 25km/h limit, it’s quite tactical. E-Enduros are also gaining steam, and these look like regular enduro’s; however, they often have super technical climbing stages designed to challenge the capabilities of both rider and bike.
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All of them are challenging, and we’re seeing an increasing number of events offer a e-MTB category! The more the merrier, I say! But there are event-specific rules that everyone needs to adhere to…
e-MTB Racing in the Cape to Cape!
After chatting with EventMatrix, I got a few updates on how they plan to run the category at Cape to Cape. It is being promoted as a ‘Ride,’ not a ‘Race,’ but as we all know, as soon as you put on a number plate and roll over a timing mat, everyone will go as fast as physically possible — I know that’s what I do.
The e-MTB category is planned to start 30 minutes after the final wave of C2C standard bikes. This means that if you ‘race’ the e-MTB category, you’ll likely catch up to some of the tail-end riders. If this is you, please pass with respect and take the time to do it safely.
Given it’s not technically a competitive category, you don’t want to ruin another rider’s day by being overly pushy when overtaking. The prestigious categories in 2024 Cape to Cape are the Elite Pairs and Elite Solo Men and Women. If you want a clear track and loads of competition, take an XC bike and race with the Elite!
All bikes will need to meet Australian standards. That means no assistance from the motor after 25 km/h.
Chipped or modified e-MTBs are always a point of discussion. “Do you think he is chipped? Surely his bike is going faster than 25 km/h!”
It’s very simple: if your bike doesn’t meet Australian standards, you cannot use it. Event Matrix tells us it will be randomly testing bikes at Cape to Cape, especially if you’re flying around the course like a rocket ship!
No battery swaps will be allowed. Most full-powered e-MTBs should be able to comfortably get through a 50km stage. With the longest stage of C2C being 53km and 800m of climbing, you may need to conserve battery while out on the course. This can be achieved by reducing the power output of your bike and using your legs to reduce the battery drain.
My tip is to dial the power down in the tight singletrack and boost it up on the open sections. Also, monitor how your bike uses the battery on a training ride before the event. You don’t want to do what Brendan ‘Trekky’ Johnston did at 2023 Thredbo National Champs and drain the battery before the finish, leaving you to lug a heavy e-MTB around the final kilometres of the course!
Lightweight vs. Full-Power e-MTBs
The lightweight, lower-torque e-MTBs are not going to be as fast as a full-power e-MTB. It’s been tested, and it’s just not possible for the slight weight advantage to result in a faster bike. Most full-power bikes put out 85Nm of torque, while SL bikes range from 40-60Nm and usually have a smaller battery and motor to reduce the weight.
If you compare full power bikes, like the Focus JAM² or the Trek Rail with a 750 Wh battery and a Bosch Performance CX motor with 85 Nm torque vs. the Focus JAM² SL, which has a 430Wh battery and a 60Nm torque Fazua motor or the Specialized Levo SL with its SL 1.2 motor producing 50Nm of torque and a 320Wh, there is quite the difference in power and capacity.
To make the distance on most SL e-MTBs, you may need to have a range extender, to reduce range anxiety and be confident that you can make it to the brewery/winery at the finish line of C2C!
What Type of e-MTB?
There is a massive range of e-MTBs on the market now, from hardtails to essentially DH bikes! The beauty of the e-MTB is that most will work fine for the Cape to Cape.
Obviously, a full-blown enduro bike with DH tyres won’t be as fast, but it will still get the job done. Just make sure you check the range when out riding to see if your bike’s battery will go the distance.
Travelling with an e-MTB
A big issue for e-MTB racing if you live a long way away is the restrictions on flying with the battery. You still can’t fly with the full-size battery in your bike and options are limited if you’re travelling from an international or interstate location and want to use your e-MTB.
One option is to drive with your bike, another is to freight your complete bike. Or there is potential to hire a battery for the week from a local bike shop. You would have to call a bike shop that hires or sells your bike model and see if they are open to the idea — or you could just hire the whole bike. With what it costs to ship an e-MTB both ways, the cost would probably been similar.
The travel restrictions do throw a bit of a spanner in the works, and I would assume that most of the riders in the e-MTB category will either be WA locals or drive with their bikes to C2C.
Logistics for Cape to Cape
The transport and logistics for C2C are much easier these days. Previously, all of the stages started and finished at different points. Now, the stages start and finish at the same point. So as long as you have a way to get to the different start points, you will be sweet.
I’d recommend staying at Margaret River for the duration of the event. Either in town or down at Prevelly, near the beach. All of the stages are within 40min of the CBD, and one stage actually starts in town. It’s the central location with loads of good cafes and restaurants in the area.
Make sure you charge your bike every night! Don’t get distracted by the breweries and wineries, and wake up in the morning with a flat battery! Having a fully charged bike is very important!
What Tyres Are You Running?
The age-old question for any mountain bike event! The amount of hours I’ve overthought and discussed tyres and tyre pressure is alarming, and most of the time, I use the same combo. What tyres should you use on your e-MTB at Cape to Cape?
You need something with a bit of bite, a bit of width, and some puncture resistance. I wouldn’t go for a full XC race tyre, although the temptation is there, and I wouldn’t put a DH tyre on either. The longer stages are always better with less rolling resistance, but you want to enjoy the singletrack with cornering traction.
If you can get a medium tread like a 2.4in Schwalbe Nobby Nic or Wicked Will, a Specialized Purgatory or Maxxis Forekaster Rekon in a trail casing, you should be on the money. E-MTBs are heavier, so you may have to run slightly higher pressures (2 or 3 psi more) to combat the weight of the bike.
Play around with your tyre pressure to get the balance with grip and not hitting the rim over the rough stuff. Tyres are personal preference, and as stated earlier, don’t overthink it!
Use the Gears on the Bike!
When out riding with mates on e-MTBs, I often see them wearing out the bottom four cogs on the cassette. This is an easy mistake to make, but if you want to go fast, you need to use the full range of gears on the cassette. Most drivetrains are worth many of dollarydoos, so use all of what you’ve got.
While each motor system is a little different, as a rule somewhere between 60 and 90 RPM is where the motors are the most efficient. You can absolutely tell when you’ve hit that perfect cadence for a particular drive unit the increase in grunt and responsiveness is huge.
Cadence can really improve motor performance and increase your range. For example, if you’re in the correct gear coming out of a tight singletrack corner about to go up a hill, then the motor will work efficiently to assist you. If you’re in a big hard gear, the motor doesn’t work properly, and you will stall out.
How Much Energy Am I Burning?
Just because e-MTB riding feels easier, it doesn’t mean that your body isn’t using energy. The perceived effort is much lower compared to a normal bike, but you’re still burning energy. You need to fuel your body to avoid a hunger flat or bonk.
e-MTB riding compared to normal MTB riding is like the difference between jogging and running. Make sure you take plenty of water with sports drink powder in it. Pack some energy chews and energy gels, and still have something to eat or drink every 15-30 minutes while racing. Essentially you want to be taking in at least 60-90g of carbs per hour.
The perceived effort is much lower than the actual effort. Some studies have found that e-MTB riding can be 90% as hard as normal bike riding (depending on the rider and the effort they put in). 10% less than maximum heart rate does feel MUCH easier though. For example, if your threshold HR is 180 BPM, taking off 10% brings you down to 162 BPM, and you can normally chat with people easily at that sort of relative HR. Make sure you’re on top of your nutrition plan and don’t run out of energy and hunger bonk.
Go and Get Involved
The main point about e-MTB racing is to go and get involved! Events like the Cape to Cape are a perfect way to experience something new and meet a bunch of rad people! It’s just a super fun week riding in a beautiful part of the world. I always love travelling to Western Australia and experiencing the vibe of the event.
Get a crew together and travel with a group of friends to make it even more memorable. Speak to your local bike shop if you need any more tips for bike setup or equipment. The main point I always seem to come back to is to have fun! Don’t take it too seriously, and appreciate the incredible cycling community.
If you’re still keen to race but haven’t signed up yet, entries are still open for this year’s Cape to Cape, head over to the event website for more.
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