Categories and Prizes

The Otway Odyssey is Australia’s most iconic MTB event with an unbroken 20-year history of premium racing. It attracts the nation’s best riders through the first timers and weekend warriors all here for the trails, competition and atmosphere. THIS IS WHERE LEGENDS ARE FORGED.

SINGLE EVENT AWARDS

Total prize pool: $9,700 CASH

100km MTB prize money

  • $2,000 cash for 1st Male and Female
  • $1,000 cash for 2nd Male and Female
  • $500 cash for 3rd Male and Female
  • $350 cash for 4th Male and Female
  • $200 cash for 5th Male and Female

106km GRAVEL prize money

  • $600 cash for 1st Male and Female
  • $300 cash for 2nd Male and Female
  • $100 cash for 3rd Male and Female

MULTIPLE EVENT RECOGNITION

Do the double…! Mix and match the races how you like.

The new format of the Otway Odyssey weekend is designed to make it easier to do multiple races on the weekend. This means you can make the most of your trip to Forrest by racing on both days (and truly prove your legendary status!)

ENTRY DISCOUNT: If you enter 2 events you’ll get 40% off the 2nd event entry fee.

To recognice riders who ‘do the double’ we’ve created three new multi-event acknowledgements so we can identify the strongest of strong – dare your mates to join you!:

King / Queen of the Otways – premier category

Race the 100km MTB on Saturday and back up with the 106km GRAVEL on Sunday. The premier King and Queen of the Otways awards will go to the overall male and female who has the fastest combined time for both events.

Gravel God / Goddess

Race the 49km GRAVEL on Saturday and back up with the 106km GRAVEL on Sunday. This is designed for those who love their gravel roads and/or only want to bring one bike to the event. Fastest combined time wins.

Titans of the Trails

Race the 100km MTB on Saturday and back up with the 50km MTB on Sunday. If you love your single track? Love railing berms? And getting into a fast flow through the trees then this is for you – MTB all the way. Fastest combined time wins.

RULE: If times are tied in any of these combined results then winner will be the fastest in the longest race of the pairing.

If these event pairing don’t suit then you can mix and match the events to suit yourself!

Saturday Races Sunday Races
100km MTB 106km GRAVEL
75km MTB 50km MTB
49km GRAVEL30km MTB
10km MTB and 17km aMTB

RACE ENTRY CATEGORIES

The following categories will be acknowledged as part of the Otway Odyssey weekend (MTB and GRAVEL RACES). Age categories will be determined by your age on race days Saturday 28 February:

MTB 100km:

  • Junior (Under 18) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40-49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike* (pedal assisted) – male & female

MTB 75km:

  • Junior (Under 18) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40-49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike* (pedal assisted) – male & female

MTB 50km:

  • Junior (Under 18) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40-49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike* (pedal assisted) – male & female

MTB 30km:

  • Junior Under 16 yrs – male & female
  • Junior (16-17) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40 – 49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike* (pedal assisted) – male & female

MTB 10km:

An award will be presented to 1st, 2nd and 3rd male/female in the U16 category only.

ADAPTIVE CYCLE (17km)

1st Male and 1st Female overall awarded

GRAVEL 106km:

  • Junior (Under 18) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40-49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike (pedal assisted) *

GRAVEL 49km:

  • Junior (Under 18) – male & female
  • Prime (18-39) – male & female
  • Veteran (40-49) – male & female
  • Vintage (50-59) – male & female
  • Masters (60+) – male & female
  • E-Bike (pedal assisted) *

*E-BIKES INFO:

Power: Pedal assisted e-bikes may be used provided they do not have a power output greater than 250watts or a powered speed faster than 25km/hr. Spot checks will be completed of e-bike output and any ‘chipped’ or adjusted bikes will be disqualified.

E-Bike Category: E-bikes will have their own category (regardless of age) and will not be eligible for age group or overall prizes or prize money.

E-bike Race Starts 2026: Competitive e-bikes will start 5mins before the main field in each race. Recreational e-bike riders can start mixed in with the main field.

Elite Women’s Exclusive Start Time

In order to stamp out pacing by male riders and create a fair race between all elite women, we will be starting the Elite Women in the 100km Otway Odyssey 30 minutes ahead of the main field.

This start is ONLY FOR WOMEN WANTING TO BE IN CONTENTION FOR OVERALL PRIZE MONEY in the OPEN women category.

If you are a female rider in the 100km event who is not of an elite level and is not in the hunt for prize money then you must start with the main field – otherwise you will block the way and cause congestion for the elite males on the single track when they catch you.

If a female rider starts in the main field and finishes in a time that gives them a place and thus prize money, this prize money will not be awarded as prize money and recognition will only be awarded to those that started in the women’s Elite only start.

Female competitors wishing to participate in the earlier start must notify Rapid Ascent at registration.