Otway Odyssey draws top racers to marathon event

Nestled deep within the Otway ranges, the small township of Forrest is getting ready to turn mountain bike mad with the Lowan Otway Odyssey Mountain Bike Marathon this weekend on February 23.

In only its second year, the Lowan Otway Odyssey has quickly grown to a major event on the Australian Mountain Bike Calendar after selling out to 1,400 riders in the 100km and 50km races plus an extra 150 riders in the junior 15km race.

The start list reads like a who's who of Australian mountain biking with seven of the top 10 finishers from the recent cross country nationals all ready and rearing to go including Sid Taberlay, Chris Jongeward, Daniel McConnell, Shaun Lewis, Dylan Cooper, Aidan Leffman and last year's winner Murray Spink. They'll have to go fast because they'll be up against reigning 24 hours of Adrenalin Solo World Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Tinker Juarez (Cannondale).

In the women's race, last year's winner Tory Thomas will take on Commonwealth Games representative Emma Colson, current hot shot Rowena Fry, Katrin Van der Spiegel, Jenni King, and Jessica Douglas.