EAT. DRINK, PLAY IN W.A.
Riding bikes and living life at Cape to Cape.
Year on year the Cape to Cape MTB race has offered more for those who visit. And while the race continues to expand, so does the off-trail fun in Western Australia.
Cast your mind back 10 years and a visit to Margaret River would be about the surf and the wineries, and maybe a little about the geology of the region. And even that new Cape to Cape event. The Cape to Cape MTB race helped the mountain bike scene in the region grow, along with the hard work of local riders and trail builders. With new trails opening each year, breweries fining their craft beers and even a gin distillery, the sleepy town of Margaret River is abuzz all year with mountain bikers. But it is October when the Cape to Cape lands in town when Margs really shines. And while the race is one part of the attraction, the appeal runs far deeper.
Most people visiting the Margaret River region for Cape to Cape will be travelling a long way across the country to get there. But once you pass through Bunbury the beauty of the area starts to take hold. From the rolling farmland, to the tall trees and red dirt, a true sense of place develops. As you drop down into the township of Margaret River, abuzz with mountain bikers coming back from a ride in The Pines or Compartment 10. I believe a trip to the south west of Australia is unique. From the limestone coastline with sometimes turbulent turquoise water, to the tall forests and red dirt inland – Margaret River is certainly a unique experience.
CAPE TO CAPE GOES HOME
2017 was a bumper year for Cape to Cape, with almost 2000 people taking part in the event, riding the new trails and experiencing a new format. But deep down, it lost some of the relevance to the name of the event. Where were the capes? In 2018 the route mixed the old stuff with the new stuff, including a return to Cape Leeuwin, and boy did the weather put on a show.
If you were there, you would know that the trails were far from muddy. But the images show the red dirt collected on the opening and closing dirt road on the route that started and finished amidst the rain squalls at Cape Leeuwin. The sandy trails were in prime condition, and Brendan Johnston and Samara Sheppard didn’t let the wet start slow down their march into the race leads.
Johnston’s lead was slim – and unexpected – having spent much of the day with a fast group of four, containing
Kyle Ward, Reece Tucknott and Andrin Beeli. At the finish, seven riders were all within a minute. “Today is typically the hardest stage of the four stages,” said Johnston. “And tomorrow it gets pretty hard towards the end of the stage - it’s another opportunity to get time. But it’s all very close.
Droves of riders washed into the finish line, moving from the finish straight to the bike wash line with war stories at the ready. The cafe near the lighthouse did a mean trade warming people on the inside and out, and while $12 seems steep for a meat pie, I can guarantee that was one of the best meat pies I have ever eaten.
THE SUN SHINES ON LEEUWIN ESTATE
The start of stage 2 couldn’t have been any different to the previous day. The sun shone as we lined up between the rows of grape vines at Leeuwin Estate. But as for the rest of the proceedings, it was a little different. Cape to Cape attracts a very competitive field at the front of the race, and the elite men were throwing everything at race leader Brendan Johnston. The course was longer at over 60km, but it was also flatter and less selective. The singletrack came at us thick and fast, and in the front the action was intense, and the pace only backed off a little when someone came unstuck and took a tumble. We rode througha tunnel of green, working hard on the uphills and working just as hard to go flat out on the downhills. There was traction a plenty, and always someone to chase. It was bloody good fun!
At the finish a fast group of eight approached the winery, and Kyle Ward lead out for his younger brother Jayden. Both were ecstatic – but would Kyle rue giving away the small amount of time?
In the women’s race Samara Sheppard was locked in her own battle with illness, and Holly Harris won the stage and took the lead, ahead of Renata Bucher and Briony Mattocks. ““I love the sun and that makes a big difference for me,” said Harris. “I got into my groove today and I really enjoyed some of the descents. I was with a wicked crew of riders today and they were all having a ball. It was so fun.”The day drew on as riders indulged with food from the vendors on the luscious lawns of Leeuwin Estate – and everyone was getting amped for Day 3.
SINGLETRACK NIRVANA
The Saturday stage is special for many reasons. If you wake up tired, well when you’ve finished the day you only have one day to go – so you’ve pretty much made it. But Stage 3 also rolls through Margaret River, a perfect time to get a high 5 or photo from family who have travelled with you. Oh, and the trails. Yep, there are The Pines. And they’re special. But it’s still pine forest singletrack and you could say that’s not uncommon. Last year, we were able to put tyres on fresh red dirt trails in Compartment 10 and beyond. Fresh trails often make you think of soft dirt but the trails were tuned to perfection. The race upfront was going ballistic, with the lite riders showing just how fast they can ride trails.
“It was a really close race today, and really hard, I got everything thrown at me,” said race leader and stage winner Brendan Johnston. “I just had to be in full defence mode really. Cam almost rode away with the whole race in the middle, with Kyle and I just hanging on.
Holly Harris won the stage with Renata Bucher just behind, and Samara Sheppard resurgent in 3rd. “Renata had a really strong ride and was always there so she did awesome today,” said Harris. “I think I gained a minute on her today so have about a 6 minute lead - hopefully that will do for tomorrow. Fingers crossed!”
MIDDLE EARTH MADNESS
Day 4 – everyone wakes up a bit tired and sore on the last day. The start line at Colonial Brewery was a little damp, and riders knew the first part of the day would be decisive. No
one hangs around on the dirt roads to the Middle Earth singletrack. The stage is all about your positioning, and with Kyle Ward breathing down Brendan Johnston’s neck for the overall lead, the race would be hectic up front. But by the final day, every rider has a rivalry – mostly friendly – and there’s plenty of jostling and heckling throughout the group. It all gives a little more story to tell post-race!
With some sandy and wet trails to start, many of us came into the trails in Middle Earth peering through silty eyes. The hand-made trails demand concentration to find the most flow, and with a little bit of moisture on the log rollovers, there’s nothing quite like a local wheel to follow for the choicest lines.
The day was about Johnston and Ward, with Ward conceding he could not break Johnston in the final kilometres. Johnston won the event, with Holly Harris claiming the women’s race. The full results are online.
BETTER WITH MATES IN 2019
In 2019, all the races in the Epic Series are aimed at racing in pairs. For Port to Port, Reef to Reef and Cape to Cape you can still race solo. But with The Pioneer, Cape Epic and Swiss Epic all part of the same global series, the intent is clear – pairs racing is the future. The four-day events around Australia might not seem in the same boat as the three big global races, but if you can ride and feel strong in one of the races here at home, chances are you can get through one of the global bucket list races. The Pioneer is probably a shorter flight for east coast mountain bikers than Cape to Cape, so it’s worth thinking about whether you can put an epic goal on your mountain bike horizon.