The Kona Odyssey has been regarded as one of Australia’s premier Marathon MTB races since the first race in 2007. For me, it had all the ingredients of a truly epic mountain bike marathon. There was a mass start right on the main street of Apollo Bay, and this lead into a big climb that sorted out the field early on. The sound of helicopters overhead getting photos and video added a real buzz – more than audibly. The journey into the Otway ranges combined hard climbs and fast, rutted descents. These areas claimed a lot of riders over the years – and the years where it was wet the mud and clay through this area made the racing even harder.
Your handwork was rewarded though, as when you were approaching Forrest you also approached the brilliant single track in the region. 2007 had many riders waking the day after with sore triceps, from so many berms and features to pump through in the middle of the previous days racing. While a lot of these trails were fresh in 2007, they have been in brilliant condition for years – and are well maintained and a joy to ride.
And so it is fitting that now the Kona Odyssey starts and finishes in Forrest. A glance at the course profile shows that there isn’t much less climbing – and there is less bitumen on the climbs. So you will be working harder for your vertical gain. The racing starts on Yaugher Road (adjacent the Forrest Football Ground) and heads up Kaanglang Road. An open loop through Forrest that eventually takes you to Mahers Road. With 12km of climbing up forest roads and four wheel drive roads to follow – it is a worthwhile point to make sure you’re in a good position, and climbing at a maintainable pace. This is just the beginning.
Click here to see the full 100km Kona Odyssey Course Map
Descending off the high point on favourite trails like Motorbike Singletrack – you will be delivered to the base of the Sledgehammer. Typically, this came at around the 92km mark. Not unlike ‘The Wall’ in the Highland Fling – you can either ride it or you can’t. But recent reports suggest a lot of fine dust on top. So gear low and maybe you will find traction. Coming back into Forrest and you now have 26km of the Yaugher single track loop ahead. Just ride – don’t think. This section is amazing.
After coming through the Forrest Football ground (and feed zone) you head out one last time for a long climb to the timed Red Carpet descent. Make sure you have eaten well so you don’t sketch out on this famed piece of single track. The last 15km leads you along more great trails and back into Forrest to finish the day by bragging to your mates about your prowess – or explaining why it just wasn’t your day.
The 50km event stays the same as previous years, it’s just the 100km that does away from the classic point to point race from Apollo Bay. For me, that’s part of what made the Odyssey truly Epic – but the new course sounds like it will still deliver an epic day of racing.
Entries are still available for the Odyssey on 16th February – visit the Rapid Ascent website to enter.