Cape to Cape is back again, ready and raring to go for yet another year of bikes, social events and adrenaline. Last year, we were praising its 15th year around the sun, but time doesn’t stop, not even for the infamous Cape to Cape. Come October this year, the race will not only be old enough to celebrate its ‘sweet 16th,’ but also arriving with some fresh new faces behind the wheel.
Last year, something big happened: Ironman sold the event to EventMatrix Pty Ltd, which is delivering the 2024 edition. The new team has really pulled out the stops for their debut. 2024 will see an already all-inclusive event made even more so, with revisions to race categories and course layout being only a few of the changes in store.
Rest assured, Cape to Cape will not be made unrecognisable. The foundations of the event will still stand strong at its heart; a pumping race village, social events, beverages and bikes will still set this race apart.
Without further ado, let’s get into what’s in store for folks in this new and improved tour of Southwest WA.
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The New Face of Cape to Cape
A new year, a new Cape to Cape, and a new company pulling the strings. EventMatrix has come into the picture with a bang, led by the business owners and event professionals Bill Hayes and Megan Grygorecewicz.
Although EventMatrix is fresh to the mountain biking scene, the company is no amateur when it comes to organising sporting events. Triathlons… fun runs… cycling? You name it, and EventMatrix has delivered an event for it. Channelling all of this experience into one, the hopes are high for the race this year.
Straight out of the gate, EventMatrix has elevated the ease of registering for Cape to Cape. In previous years, once you were in, you were in, and deferring registrations was a difficulty. The event now includes a flexible deferral and transfer policy, making bookings much more tangible in the future. Forgot about an important dentist appointment you have to go to on the 18th of October? No problem, you will be able to defer your registration and secure yourself a spot for 2025, instead.
“We want to see you riding Cape to Cape and realise sometimes things happen and plans change. If something happens and it’s not this year, then we would love to see you back next year,” says Director Megan Grygorcewicz.
On top of this change, Cape to Cape has made entering simpler still. Striking up a partnership with TravelManagers, EventMatrix has made it possible for bikes to be all you need to think about for the week. A ‘think less, ride more’ mentality is what we are looking at here, with the problem of accommodation and car hire all covered for you. (Find out more about what packages are on offer on the event website.)
EventMatrix wants to make getting to the race as smooth as possible, moving the focus toward the great riding and atmosphere of the event instead.
Cape to Cape Course Preview
With people coming from all over the globe to be part of this iconic race, I’d say the 4 stage race has got some things right. This year, most of the Cape to Cape stages will reflect those of previous years, with some tweaks here and there to accommodate rider feedback from past events.
There is one big change which will create an exciting twist to this year’s course layout: Stage 2 has been completely reworked for the race in 2024.
Instead of being led through the open arena of Boranup Forest, folks will head to Nannup Forest for a fresh taste of Southwestern Australia riding.
The mountain bike course team, made up of Michael “Brookesy” Brookes, Tony Tucknott and Graham Clarke, have been hard at work on the course layout. Working their way around the Capes, the final line-up includes Cape Leeuwin, Margaret River, the (brand new) Nannup Forest loop, and Cape Naturaliste.
The exact course details are yet to be published, but overall, the race will round up to a total of 200km of riding and 2,500m of climbing, with each stage coming in at around 34-59km each.
Stage 1 | Cape Leeuwin
Stage 1 will naturally begin and end at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse. It has reached a point where if the lighthouse wasn’t on the course map for the week, Cape to Cape would have to permanently change its name—the race just wouldn’t be the same without it.
Similar to last year, riders will push off from the lighthouse and almost instantly come face-to-face with the dreaded Skippy Rock Road. This uphill just keeps on going and will be a definite leg burner to start off the day. Once at the top, however, it will be remembered as a welcome warm-up for the rest of the course as folks get into a great stage of fire road, singletrack, and gravel.
In light of the variable weather conditions around the lighthouse, presentations will be held back at Settlers Tavern at the end of Stage 1. Once inside the vibrant pub, riders will be able to enjoy a well-earned drink at the bar, safe in the knowledge that the presentation tent won’t suddenly fly toward them in an unexpected gust of wind.
Stage 2 | Nannup
We hope you are on the edge of your seat, because we definitely are: Cape to Cape is headed to Nannup for the first time this year!
This stage is set to kick off at Foreshore Park, located a bit further inland than the start of last year’s Stage 2. Folks will begin the pedal in the Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park, characterised by its rocky, fast and flowy trails. The dense pine forests of this stage will be very different to the wide open sections of Boranup Forest (but it will possibly mean a little less dust to what riders were confronted with in 2023).
The course team say that Nannup will present riders with a very diverse terrain, offering something for all riders to enjoy.
Stage 3 | Margaret River
Termed as the ‘fan favourite’, Cape to Cape would, once again, not be the same event without this ripper of a stage.
The day around Margaret River will be a flowy, machine-packed loop of fun. Reflecting on what racers saw last year, a singletrack gala will ensue as the course explores Compartment 10 and The Pines. A fast first section will work to quickly seed riders based on speed. Then it’s onto sections of beefy, machine-built berms and turns through the dense bush.
Colonial Brewing Co. (CBCo) is yet again the start and finish of the Margaret River stage. Parking up next to the picturesque lake at the end of the day, CBCo will be more than happy to supply the refreshments to mark the end of another great day on the bike.
Cape to Cape will be sure to make beer and wine connoisseurs of us all after all this drinking! Unfortunately, you will have to hold off on the celebrations for just one more day — Stage 4 still remains.
Stage 4 | Cape Naturaliste
Finishing off with a bang is finishing off with Cape Naturaliste. If you haven’t noticed a pattern yet, Cape to Cape loves its fine wine and craft beer. It would just be rude to skew the trend this far in, so Wise Wines will present the start and finish point of Stage 4.
Before indulging in the vast selection of wines on offer, however, there is still the final stage to think about.
With no shortage of incredible views, the final day’s course will take riders up to the coast at Eagle Bay. After some spectacular ocean scenes, folks will dive into the extensive trail network of Zone 6 to get a generous dose of some top-tier single track.
As is true of all of Cape to Cape’s stages, riders anywhere from beginner to expert will all be able to have a great time on the final stage. Zig-zagging through Zone 6, riders will exit the park to be taken around the Golf Course in Dunsborough. All that’s left from here will be the finishing stretch!
Rolling through the arch at the end of the stage, each Cape to Cape rider will receive their finisher medal; a memorandum of what is sure to be a great race.
The Race Village
Cape to Cape is not only known for it’s incredible racing scene, but it also for what is available when the riding part is over.
The race village will again be a blast of social functions and pop-up stalls. Imagine food, cold beers and good vibes, and you will be halfway to what the real atmosphere of a Cape to Cape Race Village is like.
This rider ‘hub’ will also present a self-service bike wash and bike mechanic service to ensure that everyone’s wheels are rolling and suspension bouncing throughout the whole event.
Racer Categories
The race categories of Cape to Cape is one feature which has been under a lot of revision from previous years. Some aspects of the race will remain the same: There will be a minimum racer age of 15, and riders below 18 must have their registration signed by a parent or guardian. Lots of new developments, however, have been worked into the race around this.
One of the big changes to the race categories is to the pairs racing groups. In this category, riders are able to enter as a pair and become Cape to Cape finishers together, and as of 2024, the combined age of the pair will determine the group they are racing against. There is also a new ‘family pairs’ category, where one parent and one child can work together to complete the race.
In addition, pair racers will also be starting on the line together this year and will be eligible for the same awards and prizes as solo riders.
EventMatrix has also taken the step forward to add an e-Bike category to the race! E-MTB riders will race in a stand-alone category, following the same course as other riders in the event.
The event directors want to see a “sense of community and shared adventure” in future Cape to Cape races. With e-MTB categories coming into the mix, the race will be accessible to an even wider mountain biking audience than ever before.
Handcyclists will also be able to compete in all four stages of the event in 2024. Log rollovers and similar technical features have been removed from each stage to ensure that anyone and everyone can get the best out of the event. The course team do say that there are some water crossings that could not be avoided, but support riders will always be there to assist in these situations.
Prizes and Awards
Each and every racer will be in the running for an array of awards and prizes throughout the week. Racers who are fastest overall will be acknowledged for their effort, and presentations will be held after each stage. A new stream of awards — the Line Honours Awards — will be introduced this year and presented at the end of each day to the rider who crosses the line first.
There are also two very special awards that Cape to Cape offers at the end of the week. These include the Beacon Award and the James “Willo” Williamson Award.
The Beacon Award is presented to the ‘shining light of the event’. It is based on rider Johnny Waddel, who managed to overcome a serious injury and is still back ripping around the trails to this day. Anyone can be nominated for this award, and fellow riders can put down another’s name who is seen to consistently step out of their comfort zone to finish the race.
The James “willo” Williamson Award is dedicated to the rider with the fastest overall time. It is named after James Williamson, who was a big part of the race when it first began. The award comes from the heart of the event, introduced after Williamson tragically passed away in the 2010 Cape Epic.
What Type of Rider is this Race for?
Cape to Cape is not only a race for the best of the best. Anyone who is willing to give the course a crack is urged to join in.
This race is not meant to be a slog fest, nor an event filled with teeth-chattering rock gardens which will keep you up at night. Instead, Cape to Cape is something that is accessible for anyone who is ready to work for it.
Cape to Cape stands by the motto ‘it’s a ride, not a race’. Of course, even the event directors know that in the face of a timed event, some folks will be pushing off in the morning to lay it all out on the hill come race day. The point still stands that for those who are there for the good trails and great riding atmosphere, everyone is welcome to come along for the ride.
How to Enter
If the Cape to Cape has sparked your interest, you can head over to the Cape to Cape website to sign yourself up now!
Photos: Daniela Tommasi / Cape to Cape and Tim Bardsley-Smith / Cape to Cape