The renowned Otway Odyssey MTB Marathon has sold out for the third year in a row with a full field of 1000 riders in the premier 100km Odyssey Ride and a full field of 500 riders in the 50km Otway Shorty. This year’s event sold out earlier than ever before with race day still a distant seven weeks away on February 20th 2010.

A stacked field including many of the best riders in Australia will once again contest the landmark mountain bike event and special attention will focus on three former and current Mountain Bike World Champions going head to head in an attempt to win the prestigious title. In fact, the three world champions are Australia’s three 24hr Solo World Champions with 2006 winner – Craig Gordon, 2008 winner – James Williamson and 2009 winner - Jason English all lining up for their first crack at the event.

Jason English (BMC) is the reigning 24hr Solo World Champion having claimed the crown in August at the 2009 World Championships after placing 2nd in 2008 (to James Williamson. Jason has also shown incredible form over a variety of MTB marathon events with a recent 2nd at the Australian Marathon Nationals and has an enviable list of first and second places to his name including the 1st at Dirtworks 100km, 2nd Forrest 6hr, 1st BMC Mountains to Beach stage race, 1st Australian 24hr Solo Nationals, 1st Kona 24hr, 1st Jetblack 12hr, 2nd BMC 100km… this guy can race!

James Williamson (Giant) wore the 24hr World Championship jersey in 2008 beating Jason and MTB hall of fame member (and also previous Otway Odyssey competitor) Tinker Juraez for the title. James is carrying good form at present having just won the Cape to Cape MTB stage race in WA and was a member of the winning Swell Design team at the Scott 24hr in October (beating Craig Gordon and his Rockstar team amongst others) and showing he can tap it out with plenty of speed when he needs to.

Craig Gordon (Rockstar Racing) was the first Aussie to wear the coveted 24hr World Champion crown when he rode himself into the ground to beat 6 time winner, ‘The Lance Armstrong on dirt’ Chris Eatough in 2006. Since then Craig has won just about every marathon event in the country, with the Highland Fling his latest crown and previous victories including the Angry Doctor, Dirtworks, Noosa Enduro, Coffs Marathon and the 2007 Australian Marathon National Championships. If there is one guy who has the experience and the stats on paper to win it has got to be Craig.

The three of them last lined up at the Highland Fling in November 2009 where Craig came 1st, Jason 2nd and James 7th although all claim that they are a lot fitter and faster than back then and are ready to tear each others legs off in a lactic battle to the end. Bring it on!! That’s not to say that they are the only contenders for the 2010 Otway Odyssey title with the likes of Dan McConnell, Shaun Lewis, Matthew Flemming, Locky Norris, Adrian Jackson, Ben Hogarth, Paul and Neil van der Ploeg and Troy Glennan all gunning for victory as well.

The womens field is equally stacked with almost all of the Australia’s fastest femmes lining up including 2009 race winner Katherine O’Shea, 2007 winner Tory Thomas, and the likes of Jodie Willett, Joanna Wall, Jo King, Jenni King, Jessica Douglas, Terri Rhodes and Naomi Hansen all determined to get their name on the honour board.

But they will all have their work cut out for them with German professional cyclist Judith Arndt throwing her cycling helmet in the ring.. Judith has been racing professionally since the late 90’s, has been to the Olympics on three occasions (best result being 2nd in the womens road race in 2004) and most significantly became world road champion at Verona, Italy in 2004 two weeks later. Her mountain bike skills will certainly be tested...can her roady skills get her across the line?

So the scene is set for one epic race come February 20th when the full field of riders in the 100km and 50km riders line up to battle each other and the challenging odyssey course through the remarkable Otway Ranges.

Who do you think will win? – comment on this article and put your picks on the wall on the new Rapid Ascent FACEBOOK page here. There is also discussion under way on training, on your commute to work plus plenty of photos and information about what we do.

If you missed out on an entry to the 100km or 50km rides you can add your name to the waiting list here. (sorry, but it is already getting pretty long) and if you are a child or a new comer to the sport then we welcome you to still enter the 15km Otway Pioneer held on the same day. Further information on the event can be found on the event website here.