19-2-25 UPDATED EVENT PROGRAM: Here is the UPDATED event program that explains the changes made to the 2025 event including NEW start times, new course length, water points and more. We strongly encourage all riders to READ IT HERE.

READ IT ONLINE HERE

DOWNLOAD A PDF COPY HERE

Index to other information below:

• Event Location
• Event Expo
• Race Plate Collection
• Supporting Riders
• Competitor Services (water points, pit tents…)
  

Event location

Forrest Football Ground, Forrest VIC – Event Expo

The Forrest Football Ground is located on Yaugher Road, 1.5km north of the township of Forrest (VIC) and hosts the following features of the event:

• Start and finish location for all races
• Intermediary points for 100km, 50km and 30km MTB races
• Sponsors expo and display stands
• The only spot on the course where MTB riders can receive outside mechanical support – including from the onsite bike shop.

Event Expo and Festival

The Forrest Football Ground will host an array of exciting activations throughout the weekend, including:

• Race registration and plate collection
• Sponsors displays and demo gear from: Michelin, Super B Tools, Skratch Nutrition, Krush bike wash, Tyred Rider, Good Cycles and more
• Coffee, food, bar, drinks and other sustenance such as paellas, pizzas, souvlaki and much much, more.
• Kids Entertainment with Bebop Circus.
• Forrest Brewery event bar
• Live music and MC commentary

Race Plate Collection

All riders must collect their number plate before the start of your race (unless you paid for your number plate to be posted to you!). A friend may collect on your behalf too.

• Friday 3:30pm – 7:30pm: All riders welcome to collect (MTB and GOGG races)
• Saturday 6:00am – 7:45am: 100km and 50km LATE collection.
• Saturday 10:00am – 12:00pm: 10km, 30km, Groms and GOGG
• Sunday 7:00am – 9:15am: 10km, Adaptive cycles, 30km, GOGG

Race Start Location

ALL RACES (except Groms) – Riders start ON Yaugher Road in Forrest.... approx 200m up from the Forrest Football Oval (the event expo and finish line area).

Supporting riders

The Forrest football ground is the only place where MTB riders can accept outside assistance from their support crew.

Competitors may only receive external support from handlers or support crew within the confines of the Forrest Football Ground at the following points:

• 100km course: 42km and 76km points
• 50km course: 31km point
• 30km course: 12.6km point

This area is defined as any section along the course that is within the playing surface of the Forrest Football Ground. So if you are a support crew be aware of this opportunity, but also the limitation that this requires in that you cannot provide any drinks, food or other support anywhere else along the course.

Any riders seen to be receiving any external support outside of this designated area will be given a 30 minute penalty – this includes collecting water bottles or other hydration or nutrition from spectators

Competitor Services

To help you have a hassle-free time at the Otway Odyssey, the following services are provided to competitors:

Water points

Each course has a number of water points along their length (locations explained below). The following items are provided at each water point:

• Skratch sports drink powder – you mix to your preferred strength
• Water – available from either drums or taps (BYO water bottle…)

Forrest Football Ground water point:

The 100km, 50km and 30km MTB courses all come through the water point on the Forest Football ground. Riders can pre-place your own hydration / nutrition in the race chute ready to collect during the race. Items must be:

• placed in number order according to the numbered signs
• limited to water bottles and some food in a small bag only – no deck chairs, eskies or umbrellas!

Riders can also exit the race chute and receive support from non-riders (even buy an ice-cream!) provided you remain on the playing surface of the Football Ground.

NEW ‘cooling station’ set up in the race chute at the Forrest Football Ground including:
– shade and fans to rest under
– water buckets and sponges to pour over your head
– plenty of Skratch sports drink and water
– cooling spray bottles
– water melons (infused with Skratch electyrolytes if you like)
– sunscreen
– ice for your water bottles

On course water points:

The 100km courses include at two water points away from the football ground. We will can take your items to these remote water points provided they are:

• in a sealed bag clearly marked with your name, race number and the water point it is to be transported to
• bags must be no heavier than 5kg and have essentials only (we recommend the blue, supermarket cooler bags that zip shut). Plastic boxes will not be accepted
• bags must be dropped off at registration at Forrest on Friday evening before 7:30pm
• bags will be lined up in number order at the remote water point – riders find their own bags

Riders cannot receive any assistance from non-riders or supporters anywhere along the course or at any of the remote water points – other than on the playing surface of the Forrest Football Ground.

On site bike mechanics

The crew from Good Cycles will be set up to service bikes and selling last minute bike accessories.

Open Friday afternoon, all day Saturday, and Sunday morning.

Pit Tents

We openly encourage riders and clubs to set up your own track-side ‘pit tents’ on the Forrest Football Ground. Please set them up beside the race track on the far side (northern side) of the feed zone near the footy goals.

E-Bikes

Pedal assisted e-bikes are welcome at the event but will be competing only against other e-bikes and will not be ranked against traditional analogue bikes and will not be eligible for age group or overall prizes or prize money. Other points to note:

• e-bikes must not have a power output greater than 250watts or a powered speed faster than 25km/hr. The winners’ bikes will
• be checked and additional spot checks will be conducted with any offending bikes + riders disqualified
• e-bikes are only permitted to swap battery on the playing surface of the Forrest Football Ground
• e-bikes will have a bright yellow E sticker on their number plate to denote them as racing in their own category
• NOTE the start process for e-bikes as described below

Start process – e-bikes and analogue bikes

• All races start on Yaugher Road, immediately adjacent the Forrest Football Ground
• Competitive e-bike riders start 5 minutes before the main field
• Recreational / casual e-bike riders may start with the main field
• Riders must self-seed yourselves in the start chute – faster riders towards the front!
• Elite female riders contesting the 100km Odyssey must start 30 minutes ahead of the main field. This start is only for women aiming to be in contention for overall placings. Female riders hoping to win the Queen of the Mountain Climb must also start in this elite women’s start.

E-bikes take note: If you are a competitive e-bike rider who is keen to ride hard and fast up and down the hills and on the single track then you should start in the e-bike only start 5mins before the main field. If you are more of a recreational e-bike rider who doesn’t go super fast or who may be a bit slower on single track then you should start in the main start mixed in with all the analogue bike riders. These steps are to ensure the safety and comfort of all riders and to minimise congestion on the trail.