Head west to Cape to Cape!
Cape to Cape is landing this October - here's a rundown on what to expect.
Cape to Cape is one of the most popular mountain bike events in Australia, and one of the biggest multi-day mountain bike events in the world! The popular 4-day event has traditionally attracted a big crowd from around the country, and the globe. While the past couple of years have seen Cape to Cape on the sidelines or with primarily a local crowd, Western Australia is welcoming everyone back with open arms.
Cape to Cape is one event in the Australian Epic Series, a group of three 4-day mountain bike events that deliver great trails, excellent organisation and a bunch of fun. Reef to Reef was run in August in Tropical North Queensland (check out our recaps!), Port to Port will make a triumphant return to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley from 30 March – 2 April 2023. Cape to Cape is the original event that kicked off the others, and since 2018 the events have been raced in a pairs, although you can race solo if you like.
We reckon pairs racing is the most fun though. You and your teamie suport each other through the highs and lows on the bike, sharing the yiews and the views. Better yet, you've got someone to stand in the coffee line for you while you get ready in the morning, and maybe someone to wash your bike while you go and order burgers after the stage. It's a win-win scenario!
In late 2021 we had our second Places that Rock road trip to Western Australia. While their borders were closed to much of Australia, trail building went off.
One of the areas to have a bunch of redevelopment is Margaret River. And that's exactly where Cape to Cape is mostly based, although it has returned to more of a cape to cape experience.
Cape to Cape is held from 20-23 October 2022, and the stages run from Cape Leeuwin in the south, up to Cape Naturaliste in the north. But let's take a closer look!
2022 Cape to Cape Stages
You can get the full course details on the Cape to Cape website. The full route is only open for the event, as Cape to Cape accesses private property.
Stage 1 – Cape Leeuwin – Cape Leeuwin | 39km | 949m
The traditional start at Cape Leeuwin sends riders off in waves, but you'd better expect a hot start anyway! The first dirt climb acts as a natural selection, but so does the following descent if you're not careful.
This is a reasonably hilly stage, which means you're likely to be hitting the descents solo or in small groups. While the course is a mix of singeltrack, gravel road and firetrail, what you will probably find is that today is about finding your groove. Be that with your team mate, or just getting a feel for where you are in the field. Either way, don't go out and blow your doors off – the fun is just beginning!
Stage 2 – Boranup | 54km | 1000m
While the staging area is being finalised, you can expect to start and finish this stage within the vineyard region. Imagine a cool start, rolling hills, and then riding flat out in the Boranup Forest towards the coast.
You'll plummet through the coastal heath to the coast, before starting the grind back up into the hills. This course is being finalised, but this location is a rider favourite for a reason.
Stage 3 – Margaret River | 53km | 900m
Margaret River is the event hub for Cape to Cape, and this stage will start and finish within an easy ride of the township. The Margaret River trails, like Compartment 10, are fan favourites and you'll be riding them again this year.
It's a stage that winds its way around town to connect the best trails, with a mix of machine built berms and flow trails, and more natural singletrack in the forest. The exact stage plan is being fine-tuned, but expect a stage to let your singletrack shredding shine!
Stage 4: Wise Winery, Cape Naturaliste | 34km | 705m
We are going back to the Cape! With a start and finish at Wise Winery, this stage heads to Meelup Beach, and ties in a bunch of the rocky singletrack in Zone 6 and in the trails around Dunsborough. Expect some A line options, pea gravel, and rock features.
But once you're done and cross under the finish arch – you've earnt that finisher's medal and probably some war stories as well.
What to expect at Cape to Cape
So you know the dates, and you've got a quick run down of the stages – so what can you expect at Cape to Cape?
This all depends on your approach. If you're teamed up with a buddy for the Open Men, Open Women, Open Mixed or one of the Masters categories, then it's up to you how you approach things. If you want to have a good race, you'll have an ideal opportunity to benchmark yourself as the fields are pretty competitive.
With so many waves for the starts, your pace on stage one will determine where you start on the following days. So if you're more of a completer than a competer, you won't get caught up in any hectic race starts. In fact, with the wave starts, it's a pretty mellow roll out if you're not in the black dot front wave.
If you do want to be at the pointy end, you need to have your wits about you and make sure your bike is in good shape, and you've got the food, water and spares you need to get through each stage. Stage racing is all done on cumulative time, so if you opt to skip carrying spares and can't finish – you're chance of a good result is finished!
The trails are easy to ride slowly, and harder to ride fast. Some trails are a little more committing at speed, but if you're not racing for sheep stations then every trail will be within the abilities of most mountain bikers, and any hard parts will be marked with multipe down arrows so you know to take it easy – or just send it.
Off the bike, the event team rolls out the red carpet. There are bottle drops, places to fill up with water before the stage and rehydrate afterwards.
There's massage available, and you'll be able to get lunch and a drink after the stage as well. Each event venue is perfectly set up to chill out, relax, and swap stories. It's up to you how tru they are or not.
What bike for Cape to Cape?
Well, what do you have now? People will ride Cape to Cape on a hardtail, cross-country full-suspension bike, a fat bike, a trail bike, and even enduro bikes!
READ: What I learnt riding Cape to Cape on a trail bike
A 100-140mm travel bike is probably best, and if you want to aim for the podium in your category then a 100-120mm 29er cross-country bike would be what to look for. But there's no need to go buy a new bike (unless you're looking for an excuse), as even a burlier trail bike can be a lot of fun. Just think about adding some faster rolling tyres, and make sure you're comfortable on the bike for about 2-3 hours a day.
TESTED: Pirelli Scorpion 2.4" XC tyres
Make sure you have added fresh sealant to your tyres, and your bike is in good working order ahead of the event. Carry a mini pump, at least one tube, a quick link, a multitool, and a spare derailleur hanger is very handy.
Think about hydration and nutrition – it's worth checking out our nutrition section for a few tips on hydration and fueling strategies to get you through in one piece!
READ: Is beer a recovery drink?
Where to stay for Cape to Cape
This is up to you, but somewhere around Margaret River makes sense. It has a lot of amenities when you're not riding, including some great wineries, breweries and distilleries to visit. You can also take a drive to Limestone caves, or the beautiful beaches!
This means you have a drive for the first day and the last, but the other two days will either be a short drive or ride to the start and back home again.
Our tip? Add a day or two on either side of your stay. There is a lot to see and do in the south west of Western Australia, and it would be well worth heading to Collie or Dwellingup on either side of the trip to get some more great riding in.
Entries for Cape to Cape are open now – so don't miss out!
