50KM MTB – The ‘fast twitch’ race!
The 50km is the XCO racers race… Short (ish), fast and full paced from start to finish – if you want to hold a high heart rate and lay it down as quick as you can then the 50km is your baby. In fact the Odyssey 50km is one of the most popular, mid-distance races in Australia and has been the stepping stone for many cycling champions – are you one of them?
Simultaneously, it’s a great race to step-up to if you’ve ridden and conquered the 30km MTB.
NEW 50KM MTB COURSE FOR 2026!
The 50km Odyssey takes on a new course for 2026 – tackling the hills (and berms) at the start and then finishing with flow and a flurry on the Yaugher single track. There is no reason not to ride this as quick as you can – OR if you’re a more casual rider then take your time and enjoy the forest.
Course Summary
Start / finish: Forrest Football Ground
Date: Sunday 1st March. NOTE – RACE IS ON SUNDAY!
Race Start 8:30am
Length and elevation: 50.2km with 1,100m ascent
Course Segments:
- 32km leg 1: The best of the gradient
Racing kicks off with a climb – but whatever goes up comes back down – so soon enough you’ll be racing down the iconic Red Carpet, hitting up the berms of Follow the Dog and railing the corners on Roller Coaster. This is the first time the 50km race has ridden these trails and it’s going to be fiery!
- 18km Leg 2: Finish with some flow
Leg 2 heads into Yaugher for an abbreviated race through the single track, racing the most popular trails with a hot lap around the crowd favourites like Mariners Run, Super Loop and Slap and Tickle. Manage your speed, stay off the brakes and let it flow all the way to the finish back at the Footy Ground.
CLIF Nutrition and Skratch Hydration points:
- WP1: 17.5km pt at West Barwon Dam
- WP2: 32km pt at Football Ground
- WP2: 42km Cemetery Rd
- Finish: 50km mark
Double up?
Make the most of your weekend in Forrest by ‘doing a double’ and racing on Saturday and Sunday! (and get 40% off the 2nd entry fee!). Here are a couple of double-up options (more details here):
- Contest the Titans of the Trails category by riding the 100km MTB on Saturday and the 50km MTB on Sunday.
- Or mix and match the races you like and do the 49km Gravel on Saturday and 50km MTB on Sunday for example…
Course Map
Course Description and Analysis
The 50km event appeals to three broad categories of rider:
- Riders who want a challenge without agony (not everyone is ready for 75 or 100km).
- Full-throttle racers who want to stomp pedals from “starting horn” to “finishing tape” (it’s short enough to go HARD the entire way).
- Riders who raced on Saturday (75k MTB, 100k MTB, 49k GOGG) but want to make a weekend of it.
Make no mistake, the 50km is no easy feat. Even for the fastest riders it’s 2 hours plus of high octane riding.
However, the NEW course has been designed to be accessible to and fun for everyone from intermediate to advanced.
As you leave the start line from Forrest, you’ll hit Kanglaang Rd – a long, gravel climb to thin out the crowd and establish your place in the pecking order.
Then it’s onto the cult-classic single tracks like Red Carpet, Follow the Dog, Roller Coaster and other new Super-Flow trails in the “West Forrest Network” (the 50km hasn’t raced here for years and years).
Finally, it’s out to the Yaugher network (North) where the tracks are more “old school” and the twists and turns keep on coming.
One thing is for certain: By the end of this 50km, you’ll be buzzed up on single track and begging to enter the 75km next year!)
A NOTE ON SCHEDULING: The 50km race has been moved to Sunday for the first time ever in 2026. This is so you can:
A) Do the 100km or 75km MTB the day before AND still race the 50km;
B) Fulfil your other weekend commitments on Saturday (work, sports etc) and still race on Sunday!
“Summary… I LOVE this weekend!” – Heath Allen, 2022 Odyssey rider.
