An early start on Sunday with Dave (Doc) to get a quick look at the new ST, we got there around 8 and so it seemed did a lot of other people. After a quick chat with the other SXC boys (Graham and Wayne) Dave and I headed out for a quick look, 10km later we were back at the Event Center and ready to go.

After a couple of months of so, of intense marathon racing, I was looking forward to the more social Chocolate Foot SingleTrackMind Series to come around.

It was a fantastic start to the series, with the Rnd 1 being hosted at the awesome trails at Kiwarrak State Forest and hosted by the Taree Tip Riders club. A spectacular day for racing, buffed trails, had teams and solo riders alike turning up in numbers for the first round with over 200 riders entered. The event centre was buzzing with plenty of smiling and familiar faces.

The Otway Odyssey is one of those must do events. Like the Highland Fling it attracts the best riders from all over, but being in Victoria some of the best riders south of the boarder also make their way to this event.

It has been on my to do list for a while, and when it was incorporated into this years Maverick Series, it was worth the extra effort to enter and include the race on the calendar.

69km
1800m climbing

SXC Racing finishing time 03:51:51

The last day of the Epic is one of many emotions. Relief and satisfaction that the last day is here and the finish in sight all the pain and physical exertion will be over. But also sadness and emptiness that a week of extreme physical/mental commitment and months/years of planning and training is over.

116km
3000+ m climbing

SXC Racing finishing time 06:34:24

Today was rated the biggest and hardest stage of the Cape Epic - and it was!