Tien jaar Cape-to-Cape MTB W-Australia

… Voor een indruk waarom ik via mijn Australische mate Frank ook zo enthousiast kan raken over hét jaarlijkse fietsfestijn aldaar, hieronder het verhaal over dit jaar, dat ook op de website van het evenement is terug te vinden. Ik wil nu al aan de start. Gek hè …

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Year 2017 marks ten years of the Cape-to-Cape MTB. To mark this milestone an epic four days of festivities has been planned! Next year has been designed for everyone and anyone to participate in the Cape-to-Cape MTB and celebrate our ’10 Year Anniversary’. 

If you have previously competed in the Cape-to-Cape MTB we are inviting you to join us again. Or if you are looking to participate for the first time, then make 2017 as your year. We have taken away all the excuses and created the ultimate Cape-to-Cape-course!

To celebrate ten years of Cape-to-Cape MTB calling the South West region our home, we are taking a break from the point to point format. Year 10 will be based solely out of venues around Margaret River with all four stages starting within a 5km radius of the Margaret River town centre. The Four Special Stages have been designed to incorporate the best trails used throughout the ten years of the Cape to Cape MTB and will include Boranup, Middle Earth, The Pines and the soon to be opened Compartment 10.

The redesign of the course has also seen the inclusion of ‘Stage Host Venues’, meaning each stage will start and finish at the same location! This will take the previous logistical issues away from your planning. Stage Host Venues will include Xanadu Wines, Leeuwin Estate, Colonial Brewery and the centre of Margaret River Township itself.

For the first time we will also be implementing wave starts from Stage 1 with the first wave saved for elite riders only and those who have previously finished in the Top 100 at Cape to Cape MTB.  Behind them you can select wave times based on your ability level with waves leaving at 15 minute gaps all morning. Allocation to these waves will be on a first come first served basis, so if you want to ride with your mates sign up straight away to reserve your spot, as once the waves fill the event will be sold out!

Year 2017 will be an event for the whole family with the close proximity of stages reducing travel time during the day and increasing the opportunity to really explore the Margaret River region and all that it has to offer! To cap it off we will have an “Event Village” within the middle of Margaret River with the council allowing us to close one of the side streets and take over for the week of the event. The Event Village will be open daily for the week of the event from the Wednesday onwards for Registrations, Merchandise, Sponsor Zones, Riding Demos, plus a stage for daily presentations and nightly music acts. It will be the place to hang after each stage with food trucks, mobile bars, sponsor demos, elite rider marquees and everything else, all within a close proximity of your favourite bars and restaurants in Margaret River.

To make the event even more memorable, every rider who registers will receive a 10 Year Cape-to-Cape MTB Commemorative Feature Jersey. A really special design for 2017, you won’t want to miss out on this jersey! Entry numbers will be strictly capped so get in early to avoid disappointment and REGISTER NOW!

STAGE 1: PINES PUNCH

(Please note: 2017 course alignments are currently provisional and under discussion).

Thursday 19th October 2017

Start/Finish: Xanadu Wines

Distance: 50kms

The vast expanse of Xanadu Wines provides an ideal destination for the start of the 10 Year Anniversary edition of the Cape-to-Cape MTB. Rolling out through the grape vines riders will head north towards Margaret River in search of the coveted Pines. Entering the tall towering timbers, returning riders will be entering familiar territory while new participants will be picking their jaw up off the ground as the trails take their breath away.

The old faithful Burnside Loop will make an appearance along with the loamy goodness of Wharncliffe Mill, before riders twist and turn their way back to Xanadu Wines to end what will be an epic Stage 1. Be sure to take advantage of the wonderful facilities at Xanadu Wines after crossing the finish line to relax and recover ahead of Stage 2!

STAGE 2: BORANUP BLAST

(Please note: 2017 course alignments are currently provisional and under discussion).

Friday 20th October 2017

Start/Finish: Leeuwin Estate

Distance: 60kms

Departing from the magical Leeuwin Estate, riders will head south towards Cape Leeuwin on an assortment of trails through tall trees and natural forests. Regular Cape-to-Cape MTB riders will then hit familiar territory as riders enter the loamy goodness of the Boranup trails. Blasting through Lord of the Rings and going Down the Rabbit Hole riders will be on a high as they ride some of the best the south west has to offer.

Making a turn for the coast, riders will fly down to the rocky crops of Contos Beach, blasting off water bars and natural jumps, taking in the breath taking views as they go! 

Following the climb out of the coast riders will twist and wind through a variety of trails and picturesque vineyards as they approach the finish back at Leeuwin Estate. Cross the finish line, grab a refreshing beverage and begin that recovery process in preparation for the next day’s magic!

STAGE 3: MIDDLE EARTH MAGIC

(Please note: 2017 course alignments are currently provisional and under discussion).

Saturday 21st October 2017

Start/Finish: Colonial Brewery

Distance: 60kms

Prepare yourself to be amazed as you twist and turn through the magical flowing trails of Middle Earth. Starting at the cosy property of Colonial Brewery, riders will head out on a mixture of roads, access tracks and some narrower trails as they head north and keep the pace high. The trail narrows and riders will reach the rabbit warren of single track goodness known as Middle Earth, which has it all with berms, jumps, log overs, flowing corners and much more!

Twisting and turning for kilometer after kilometer Middle Earth unfortunately will come to an end. Popping out on to an access trail will allow riders to have a mini recovery before they turn the pace back up. Another varying mixture of trails will have riders flying along as they head back towards Colonial where an icy cold, refreshing beverage awaits!

STAGE 4: RIVETING RIVER TRAILS

(Please note: 2017 course alignments are currently provisional and under discussion).

Sunday 22nd October

Start/Finish: Margaret River Event Hub

Distance: 50kms

With three Special Stages down and just one to go stoke levels will be high, along with a slight bit of fatigue. And Stage 4 will be the perfect way to cap it off! Starting and finishing in the centre of Margaret River will provide a spectacle not to be missed with the town centre being transformed in to a sea of bikes. The Pines will be better than ever in 2017 with the brand new Compartment 10 trails serving stoke for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Riders will tackle the epicness of Compartment 10 before riding an assortment of trails out to the picturesque Ten Mile Brook Dam and returning to the centre of Margaret River on the rad river trails. Cross the finish line, hang the bike up and celebrate your achievements at one of the various vendors in our Margaret River Event Hub. Hang around for the night to enjoy live entertainment and a bigger than ever presentation ceremony!

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