ONE DAY OF MARATHON MOUNTAIN BIKING...
JUST 60 MINUTES FROM CAPE TOWN...
ACROSS LEGENDARY MOUNTAINS AND TRAILS...
TO TEST THE RESOLVE OF BODIES & BATTERIES!
THE ODYSSEY
120km Marathon MTB
Where one-day legends are made — solo or teams of 2
E ODYSSEY
70km E-bike Only Marathon
SA's first dedicated E-bike Marathon MTB
LITE ODYSSEY
40km MTB and E-Bike Ride
CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE
23 January 2027
Paul Cluver Family Wines, Elgin
South Africa’s 1st UNESCO Biosphere
Within 60 minutes of Cape Town
A true challenge of endurance and skills. Brace yourself for tough. Rough terrain, smooth single tracks and off-piste climbs on trails in the pristine Kogelberg. An ODYSSEY journey of the body, mind and soul.
120KM
~2,500m
Solo or Team (2)
6:30 AM
9 Hours
No E-Bikes
SA’s first dedicated E-bike marathon MTB races. Take on most of THE ODYSSEY on one battery. E ODYSSEY will test the endurance of you and your machine.
70KM
~2,000m
Solo
7:00 AM
6 Hours
Only E-Bikes
Calling all mountain bike enthusiasts, including e-bikers to the LITE. This rider-friendly route offers exhilarating exclusive trails and spectacular views, before soaking in THE ODYSSEY at the Paul Clüver Amphitheatre.
40KM
~700m
Solo
7:30 AM
4 Hours
E-Bikes: Allowed
AN UNFORGETTABLE MTB EXPERIENCE
RUGGED & RAW
This rare opportunity to ride where few have gone before & may ever go again. A combination of weather beaten tracks, mountain passes of old and sublime single tracks await. The January heat and the Sphinx are sure to test your grit, guts and determination.
TESTING ONE TWO
A unique opportunity to put you or your team through a massive one-day test ahead of the upcoming Western Cape’s stage races.
Gauge fitness, hone your skills, fine-tune equipment and solidify your resolve for when it’s going to matter most.
ACCESSIBLE
Drive in, race to the max and drive out. Only 60 minutes from Cape Town, THE ODYSSEY provides compelling value for time, training and money. Experience mountain biking like it was meant to be without demanding a weekend away from home.
TOUGH ENOUGH
THE ODYSSEY does not call the faint of heart, it calls those willing to dig to new depths and test their minds, bodies and souls to their absolute limits. Finishing THE ODYSSEY isn't about joining a club, it's about proving you are tough enough.
TAKE ON THE KOGELBERG
Prepare for relentless climbing, technical descents, flowing single track and The Sphinx! THE ODYSSEY traverses the Kogelberg Biosphere over famed trails, some that have never been raced and new additions that will thrill and delight.
From Groenlandberg to Egyptian myths, venomous snakes, grumpy baboons and birds of prey, the route of ~120 km with 2,500m of ascent will demand your attention and respect.
Grit, guts and determination will definitely be called on. Provisional route subject to confirmation in December 2026.
THE ODYSSEY
E ODYSSEY
LITE ODYSSEY
YOUR CHALLENGE AWAITS. SECURE YOUR PLACE.
Entries close 14 January 2027 or when sold out. Enter early to save.
No E-bikes.
Distance: 120 KM
Ascent: ~2500M
Price(pp): R 1,500.00
Team of 2: R 2,700.00
MAKING IT REAL
Our partners are part of the fabric and pulse of THE ODYSSEY. Our commercial partners and CSI partners bring a richness to the events that ensure we are all able to enjoy the ride,sustainably.
THE ESSENTIALS
Schedule
What's Included
Rules
Rider Info
PROTECTING OUR PLAYGROUND
We share the Cape’s mountains with these elusive predators. The Cape Leopard Trust works to protect leopards and leopard landscapes and support coexistence between humans and wildlife. Your donation helps fund their research, conservation and educational activities, ensuring these magnificent animals continue to thrive in the wild.
The Kogelberg Biosphere, designated by UNESCO, is South Africa’s oldest biosphere. Stretching from the mountains above Gordon’s Bay, along the coast to Hermanus and inland to Botriver and Grabouw. Covering around 100 000 hectares, the Kogelberg Biosphere is known as the heart of the Cape Floral Kingdom (one of just six plant kingdoms in the world). Housing the richest, most complex biodiversity on earth and home to more than 1 880 plant species, of which 77 are found nowhere else.
The Kogelberg Biosphere wildlife rescue centre rehabilitates injured wildlife for release them back into the wild, where they belong. Tortoises, owls, goslings, snakes, porcupines and Blue Cranes are regular visitors. Your contributions will go a long way to preserving the routes you will ride and the animals you might be lucky enough to see.
GET IN TOUCH
Have a question about the race or want to partner with us? Fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
