Cape to Cape MTB
Margaret River’s Mountain Bike Joy
Catriona Sutherland / 23.10.2017
As the sunset on the eve of day three of the Cape to Cape, stormy skies overruled blazing sunshine; lashings of lightning and rainfall had made it an early start for the organisers. Having been up before sunrise, they cleared the course and remarked washed away arrows in time for the last lap.
Starting from the centre of Margaret River township this time, we’d be pedalling out on a controlled start along the Bussell Highway, before clearing off into the woods once again. Now the storms had ceased, it was to be one of the hottest days of the race so far. I layered on the sunscreen and glugged water in the hope of holding off the suffering. A word of warning on this race - take plenty of water as there’s only one water stop each day, and there are no food stations - so don’t rely on those for a mid-ride fix.
The second day since my eventful collision, I’d woken up close to rigor mortis - pains in my back and neck from ceased muscles starting to set in. I’ll happily admit, I was feeling mighty worse for wear. Even so, the race must go on and I wasn’t going to miss out on the last stage of the Cape to Cape. Normally a ‘special stage’ in the regular linear route - the pièce de résistance is The Pines and it was saved for the final day.
As 8 am struck, the elite pack pounced, with Samara Shepherd and Brendan Johnson leading the line out. The night before, we’d been treated to a dinner and Aussie entertainment at Colonial Brewery; a chance to chat to other riders and exchange stories of stoke and suffering. King of the Q&A, Brendan gave us all an insight into life at the front as well as some comedic recall from riders who’d crashed out; prizes of course for the most heroic!
As we were about to leave, an announcement came to tell us there’d been an incident ahead and we’d have to wait a short while; the sodden tracks and slippery roots were out in force today. Once resolved, we left out of the Main Street, with shouts and cheers from locals, their first time to witness the full parade. Riding out on the tarmac, there was a sense of tired legs from most - mine included. Not before long, we were back on to familiar ground in The Pines with some long tracks to spread out the groups before the prized singletrack started. Today’s ride was yet another sci-fi movie inspired mash-up of trail names that included Princess Leia and Return of the Jedi. I was soon lost in the ebb and flow of the forest.
I barely recall a fire road the entire ride; only a brief gravel section that lead us on the familiar routes from day one. I’ve never ridden so much singletrack in one sitting, never mind in stage event; I was wishing I’d brought my full suspension bike! Just as I was getting tired, I sucked down a caffeine gel and a took a lively run through Double Espresso and Long Mac to wake me up. Polished to perfection, the Compartment 10 trail had riders whipping and jumping over rollers and carving berms for the final time - certainly not the usual sight from the stage races I've ridden!
With a glimpse of the Margaret River herself to conclude the last 50 kilometres of the Cape to Cape, we pushed pedals along the path named Ten Mile Brook, more locals by the wayside to coax us on. I was cooking and wishing for water. With all I had left in the tank, I hung on as best I could to cross the line at the local primary school - hot, happy and relieved to be in one piece! A large crowd of locals and supporters gathered to clap us all in and congratulate us on completing the 230 kilometres of Margaret River’s finest network of mountain bike joy!
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