Entries have opened for the 2015 Giant Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon, set for Saturday 21st March on the phenomenal trails around Forrest, South-West Victoria.
Coming into its 9th year, the Giant Odyssey is one of Australias biggest and best marathon MTB races thanks to the quantity of epic singletrack, the climbs and blitzing descents, race atmosphere and sense of satisfaction you get when you finish in the middle of the massive Forrest Festival.
Race organisers at Rapid Ascent are planning for another big year with over 4,000 competitors and spectators expected for the event. With a date change for 2014 to late April, this has been brought forward again for 2015, to the weekend after the National Cross Country Championships.
“The new date of Saturday 21st March will suit the riders better and should provide perfect racing conditions, we’ve improved the course for the 50km riders to give them even more single track, and introduced new entry fee levels to create package options for our competitors,” said Sam Maffett, General Manager, Rapid Ascent.
Forrest trails at the 2014 Giant Otway Odyssey. Photo Rapid Ascent
The event offers three race options: the renowned 100km Giant Odyssey, the shorter yet still challenging 50km Giant Shorty, and the 15km Giant Pioneer designed for kids and new comers to the sport.
Each race includes some of the best mountain bike single track in Australia with the renowned Forrest trails providing scope for some great riding. Many of the nation’s top mountain bike riders will be competing with the added incentive of gaining series points in the Maverick Marathon Series. The Giant Odyssey features as Race 2 of the Maverick Marathon Series, which brings together four of Australia’s most popular mountain bike marathons.
Chris Jongewaard, notching up another Kona Odyssey victory. Photo: SuperSport Images.
Several riders have completed every single Odyssey to date and are planning to return in 2015. This is what they had to say about the event.
“Great variety with fire trails, tight single track, swooping berms and jumps, steep climbs all in beautiful eucalypt forest,” said David Rusden.
“Sweet flowing tracks; punchy, blood pumping uphills and attention grabbing downhills – riding the Otways is a unique spiritual experience,” said Dave Scarlett.
The Odyssey, while younger than a few other Australian Marathons like the Fling, Convict 100 and FC Epic, is a true classic with some of the greatest mix of trails for any Australian Marathon event. It’s well worth making the trip to Forrest to compete in this classic.
Entries to the 2015 Giant Odyssey are now open online at www.GiantOdyssey.com.au