04/09/2026
Can you believe the TWENTY FIRST Otway Odyssey weekend is already approaching?! (ENTRIES OPENING NEXT MONDAY 7TH SEPT.)
It's had us chatting in the RA office about what has kept riders flocking back to this event for so long, while countless marathon MTB and gravel events have come, gone and faded into obscurity.
๐ Maybe itโs because thereโs something for ALL riders โ with a suite of mountain bike races of 100km, 50km, 30km, 10km, 43km e-MTBโฆ and Gravel rides of 100km and 50km.
๐ Maybe itโs the post-race elation that can only be experienced after pushing yourself to your limits on flowing singletrack & โchampagneโ gravel with views that make you look to your riding buddy and say "is this real?!"โฆ
๐ Maybe itโs the lush wilderness and prehistoric ferns of the Otway National Parkโฆ
๐ Maybe itโs the deep elite field made up of World-Cup contenders, national jersey holdersโฆ and even former Tour de France yellow jersey wearers and stage winners!
๐ Maybe itโs that nod or wink shared between riders that says โI know what you did. Youโre tough as nailsโโฆ
๐Maybe it's because you awesome riders bring the vibes and support each other (or "trauma bond" as Peta Mullens put it) like one big (slightly crazy) family...
Or maybeโฆ Maaaaybeโฆ
Itโs the magical combination of ALL these things (and more).
Whatever the case, we're beyond grateful for this riding community for coming out and supporting this little event of ours. We CANNOT WAIT to kick it up a notch in 2027.
We'll send you another email when entries open...
In the meantime, read up on all the NEW features* and NEW schedule*, start nagging your mates and get ready to enter on MONDAY!
23/08/2026
โ๐๐พ, ๐๐๐๐ : ๐๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ก 95๐๐ ๐๐ โ๐๐๐ ๐๐ข๐ก๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ผ ๐๐
๐๐๐ผ๐๐ธ ๐ผโ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐โ๐ก ๐ก๐ ๐กโ๐ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ก๐ ๐๐๐๐ค๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ข ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ .โ
Thatโs ๐the deal most riders were silently making with their bodies as they crawled out of their sleeping bags ahead of Stage 4 of the Shimano Gravel Muster today.
The bikes had carried everyone a long way by this point. The snack pockets had seen too much. The legs had formed opinions. But, we think we speak for everyone when we say, our SOULS are 100% recharged!
When the racing got underway, the tired bodies left Ross River Homestead for one last push back to Alice Springs (and a finish line literally INSIDE the Alice Springs Brewing Co b**r garden!).
It started steadily enough, winding over the ridgelines of Ross River Gorge, along the Binns Track south and across the dry Ross River bed before opening out onto the plains.
But then came the last piece of business...
A 43km timed segment, affectionately dubbed โThe Ringwood Roubaixโ, began at the 21km mark. It gave the flat-chat crew one final chance to pump out the watts, seek a smooth line and put time on the board in the battle for GC.
For the cruisers, it was one last dance with the desert before returning to asphalt and rolling into the local watering hole.
At the finish line, all riders came together like a big family for high-fives, fresh ales and tales that are still getting taller with every b**r!
Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the entire field for taking on this slightly hare-brained concept of ours. Itโs terrain that would make most mere mortals squirm, but you handled it like pros and should all be proud!
Finally, a HUGE THANK YOU for your good humour, pig-headed determination and adaptability! Toughing it out is one thing. Doing it with a smile on your face is something else entirely!
FINAL RESULTS:
STAGE 4 - FEMALE
Bek GRATTON 1:14:19
STAGE 4 - MALE
Jack BRAND 1:09:46
๐๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐ซ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐๐ข๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ง๐๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ:
FINAL GC - FEMALE
1st: Elizabeth NUSPAN 6:22:48
2nd: Bek GRATTON 6:43:55
3rd: Bridget LESTER 7:32:32
FINAL GC - MALE
1st: Jack BRAND 6:07:01
2nd: James MORRIS 6:08:52
3rd: Ian MCKELLOW 6:24:25
Full results here: https://gravelmuster.rapidascent.com.au/2026-results/
Thanks again, everyone. (Now letโs get to that post-race buffet!)
22/08/2026
Sunburnt country, one gravel road at a time.
Stage 3 of the Shimano Gravel Muster served up the kind of scenery that makes you forget you're mid-race and just start soaking it in.
The 90km stage left Hale River Homestead this morning, beginning with a 17km mass-start racing segment. The route passed Ambalindum Station and its working cattle yards, crossed dry riverbeds with the occasional sand trap, wove through shady gullies and climbed onto the Arltunga Plateau.
Then the timing stopped at the historic Arltunga ruins. Time to jump off the bike, explore Central Australia's oldest settlement and imagine what life would have been like during the gold rush in 1887!
Soon after we pulled into the Arltunga Bush Pub for morning smoke'o where the coffee machine was running almost as hot as the beating hearts of the riders.
From there, the desert kept shifting shape underneath us โ new colours, new textures, new views around every bend. The cruisers took it slow and soaked it in together. The racers filed it away for later, heads down and ready for the next timing mat at the 37km mark.
The second racing segment ran for 30km to the 67km point near Trephina Gorge, a fittingly jaw-dropping backdrop for lunch on a jaw-dropping stage.
The final 20km cruise took the weary crew downhill to Ross River Homestead, their camp for the night, complete with a fully stocked bar, cafรฉ, pool and the chance to relax and chat some more.
Big congrats to the Stage 3 field.
Here are the results:
STAGE 3
Female: Elizabeth NUSPAN 1:32:42
Male: Jack BRAND 1:27:49
Here are the GC standings with one day to go:
GC - FEMALE
1st: Elizabeth NUSPAN 5:08.19
GC - MALE
1st: Jack BRAND 4:57:35
Full results here:
https://gravelmuster.rapidascent.com.au/2026-results/
Can't believe there's only one more day!
22/08/2026