Escape to Cape to Cape

Eight years ago the Cape to Cape started up with a field of around 100 racers, most of them WA locals from Perth and the race’s home in the Margaret River region. Over time, smart moves by the race organisers, including astute marketing, a willingness to listen to feedback, and new alliances with local mountain bike groups have seen the event gather more and more enthusiastic support from across Australia, peaking at a massive 1,400 racers – that’s hundreds more than our most popular marathons and well above any other stage race.

These days the Cape to Cape attracts around 1,000 participants, many of them flying in from interstate, but some from as far away as Europe and Asia. It’s easily Australia’s most popular stage race… No mean feat when you consider the distance of the Margaret River region from a typically east-coast-centric sport. Racers keep coming back because this event has got the right mix – great trails, plenty for support crews and families to do, and heaps of social events.

On the Cape to Cape trail

Boutique ciders and gastro porn are admittedly on anyone’s list when they visit Margaret River, but the Cape to Cape is a mountain bike race, so there’s no doubt that the race rests on a solid foundation of great trails, variety, and challenges. Granted, the Cape to Cape includes some quite long stretches of bitumen and fire road, but these are used to link up sections of singletrack and other technical trails that showcase the Margaret River’s considerable wealth of trails – much of which passes through private land, so can only be ridden during the event.

It’s important to remember that the Cape to Cape is a journey that traverses the full length of the Margaret River region, which juts into the pristine Indian Ocean on the south-west coast of Western Australia. All in all, organisers have made a great route considering the constraints of the point-to-point format, and the course provides a lot of variety of terrain and trail.

Starting at the region’s southern reach at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, stage one sees racers passing in and out of sand traps where the slightest error could cost dearly, and includes the iconic section along Deepdene Beach, where choosing the correct line through the wet sand and avoiding the soft stuff brings another dimension to usual mountain bike competition. Next, stage two features incredibly fast sections of superb singletrack through the Boranup Forest, where riders shoot through trails tunnelling beneath immense Karri trees, over logs and around blind corners, before cruising back towards the coast for some treacherous riding over limestone rock formations.

Day three has traditionally been celebrated as singletrack day, and twists through Margaret River township’s forests and bushland. Day four takes riders through the magic of ‘Middle Earth’, natural, fast trails full of jumps and berms, through some fire and bitumen road, before finishing on the techy training circuit at Dunsborough Country Club, which boasts 12 kilometres of rocky, gravelly trails that culminate in a final shot down the dual slalom course, rocketing riders to the finish line.

In testament to the care and forethought with which organisers are approaching course design, moves are already in place to fill the inevitable void that will be left when ‘The Pines’, a well-known mountain bike park close to Margaret River’s village, is logged before next year’s race. In fact, this year much of the Cape to Cape’s most interesting and varied singletrack wasn’t in The Pines at all, but hidden deeper in the region’s forests and private land, in secret pockets a little further afield. Cape to Cape organisers have been working closely with the local mountain bike community in Margaret River not only to scout new singletrack and new routes, but to construct a new network of trails that will be gradually released over the coming years. With funding for the event secured until 2017, the next two years promise more variety, more singletrack, and more surprises for riders making the trip back.

Cape to Cape Race facts

Distance: 220km

2015 winners

Men: Kyle Ward (av. Speed 28km/h)

Women: Peta Mullens (av. Speed 24km/h)

Start point: Cape Leeuwin

End point: Dunsborough Country Club

Highlights: Middle Earth and Dunsborough Country Club’s singletrack, incredible beaches, micro-breweries, established wineries, thriving foodie culture, quaint villages, gorgeous countryside

Which bike? Hardtail if you’re going for speed, short-travel duallie if you’re after comfort. Either will do the job

Local club: Margaret River Offroad Cycling Association

Off the bike

Stage racing is the perfect opportunity to take a holiday, but the problem has always been that while thrashing around in the dirt, scoffing gels, and sweating profusely might be your idea of a good week away, there’s every chance your partner, kids, and friends may not be so enthused… And holidays aren’t that much fun on your own.

The Cape to Cape really is one of the few stage races on the Aussie calendar that understands that for a four-day event to work, amazing trails and a strong field of racers is one thing – but having plenty for the entourage to do is just as important.

For both riders and their support teams, the carefully selected start/finish locations all provide opportunities to step back from the race and soak up the atmosphere of the Margaret River. First, there’s Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, which overlooks a craggy, dramatic coastline and boasts a superb café, then the pristine beach at Hamelin Bay, perfect for a dip at the end of the stage or for families looking to unwind. On day two the race finishes at one of the region’s top wineries at Xanadu Wines, and on day three at the boutique Colonial Brewery. To finish, there’s the plush golf course at the Dunsborough Country Club located right in the heart of wine country. All provide gourmet food and drink, some have live entertainment, and there’s always plenty of outdoor fun, with tonnes of room for young ones to throw a ball around or ride their own bikes.

With each stage taking just a couple of hours, there’s a lot of daylight left over for exploring Margaret River’s attractions further afield. As the region is so densely packed with things to do, I’d suggest planning your extra-curricular activities around the parts of the region the race flows through on each stage, exploring the southern tip then moving a little further north as the race does. There are the wineries, sure, packed more and more densely the further north you go, but craft breweries of beer and cider are mushrooming in the area, and foodie attractions like chocolate factories, olive groves, dairies and berry farms dot the countryside, and there’s always plenty for kids to do.

Your To Do List should at least include a visit to the Colonial and Bootleg breweries, which offer some really original beer varieties and have playgrounds for the kids, and live music for the adults. Meanwhile, the Leeuwin and Voyager Estates Wineries are some of the region’s best-known and loved, and both are right in the middle of the race action, not far from Margaret River.

You’d be mad to visit the region without taking some time out to soak in the pristine beaches and perfect waves that draw surfers from across the world. Check out Prevelly, Gnarabup, or Yallingup beaches for a stroll, a coffee, or a dip.

It’s also worth knowing that the Margaret River region sits on ancient limestone which, below ground, has been eaten away over millions of years to reveal spectacular cave systems, each with their own attractions and character. Luckily, there’s a cave situated near the start/finish of each day. Look out for Jewel Cave, Lake Cave, Mammoth Cave and Ngilgi Cave and be sure to schedule a visit between mountain bike adventures

Get close to the action

Cape to Cape organisers have put just as much thought into the experience for spectators as they have into the trails for riders: Each day there’s room to park, grab a coffee and unwind while your racing buddy is out there huffing and puffing over the course. For those who want to check out the action or throw their rider a race bottle, the rider book provides step-by-step details about how to follow the race route by road, where to stop for snaps, feeds, or cheers, and how to get to the finish line on time to pick your rider up. This level of organisation benefits riders too, as key spots on the trail light up with crowds of rabid fans, lifting the motivation and taking some sting out of the legs.

Cape to Cape is known for its capacity to attract a strong field of elite-level racers, drawn to the variety of trails, great prize money, and the beauty of the region, but what’s the point of being able to attract a super-strong field of elite riders if most of us never get to witness their super-human feats on two wheels?

Cape to Cape is unique in that it offers great spectating not only for families and friends, but for competitors as well. On the afternoon of the event’s second day, top elite riders and selected locals are invited to take part in the ‘Sundown Shootout’, a mad dash for cash and glory, railing a short section of flowing trail just over one kilometre long and featuring plenty of jumps and berms to test their skills.

Catch up over dinner

Apart from lazing around with a beverage at the gorgeous stage finishes each day, Cape to Cape provides some extra opportunities to catch up with other riders over some relaxed meals of local food and wine. On Friday night after the Sundown Shootout, there’s usually a three-course meal with live entertainment, stunning wine, and a rowdy mountain bike quiz at the picturesque Xanadu Wines. On Saturday night, things are more relaxed, with a gourmet buffet accompanied by some award-winning craft beers on offer at Colonial Brewery.

Anyone who can’t recruit a support crew won’t be left in the lurch. There’s transport to and from start and finish locations for riders (and bikes to and from the first and last stages), as well as bike storage and bike wash facilities at race villages. There’s also transport to and from the dinner functions on Friday and Saturday night, as well as the Sundown Shootout. For anyone with mechanical woes, the Bike Dr is on-site at each stage to help keep your bike in perfect shape. One caveat is that the race hasn’t yet offered feed zones for riders stock up, so be sure to take your hydration pack and fill your pockets for each stage.

Excuses this good to ride a bike on the incredible west coast of Australia are rare, and the fact that this event traces a dramatic coastline through countryside thick with wineries, breweries and foodie delights only adds to the temptation to jump on a plane. Margaret River plays the perfect host to the hordes of riders who crowd here every October, with bike-friendly cafes, accommodation, and locals all getting out to cheer whenever the race train shoots through town.

If you’re thinking of making the trip, just be sure to make a holiday of it – bring the kids, your friends, and your partner and take some time between racing to enjoy the gourmet and outdoor attractions the region has to offer.

Getting there and away

Most Australian airlines fly direct from major centres to Perth. From there, the best way to get to Margaret River is by car, a trip of about three hours.

Where to stay?

You can travel with the race if you like, changing hotels as the race travels north, but mostly, the race centres on the friendly village of Margaret River. Check out Margarets Beach Resort (margaretsbeachresort.com.au) if you want a base with a great bistro and fine views of the sun setting over the sea. Transport to and from race finishes leaves from Margaret River and Prevelly, both of which boast a range of accommodation options for different budgets.

Don’t forget

Your boardies, your appetite, and your family and friends

Travel ideas, attractions, itineraries, accommodation: margaretriver.com

All photos by Mick Ross