Tasmanian duo Cam Ivory and Izzy Flint return to Cape to Cape chasing more success

Tasmanian mountain bike stars Cam Ivory and Izzy Flint are no strangers to Cape to Cape MTB and both are looking for further success when the 2024 edition rolls off the start line on October 17.

Ivory the reigning elite men's cross-country national champion and Flint the under 23 Oceania and Australian cross-country champion can already call themselves Cape to Cape Champions.

Ivory won the open men's pairs category with Dan McConnell last year and the mixed pairs in 2021 where he combined with Flint.

For 2024, they are eyeing individual glory and for Ivory it is a chance at redemption having come close to a solo win on his first attempt in 2016.

"I'm excited to be back racing solo and racing against my mates. The first time I raced Cape to Cape as a solo was in 2016 where I won the first two stages and the Redbull Shootout, but then gastro took me out of the race.

"I haven't been able to get the solo win since then so I'm looking forward to trying to tick that one off this year.

Flint is likewise excited by the prospect of chasing solo victory and is on the comeback trail after two injury impacted years. After missing the 2023 season, she had a strong domestic season with national and Oceania titles before spending the last two months racing in Europe.

"I always love racing the pairs. It's a fun dynamic, but I'm super keen to rip in solo and push myself against the other girls."

As a six-time Cape to Cape rider, Ivory knows the trails of the South West of Western Australia well and is looking forward to the new stage two in Nannup and the Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park.

"I've heard great things about the trails around Nannup and I'm excited to see what they're like. A lot of us are quite familiar with the other stages and trails so this new stage could really shake up the field.

"I'm always keen to explore new locations and ride new trails, and what better way than racing them full gas without really knowing what could be around the next corner!"

On what keeps her returning to Australia's largest mountain bike stage race Flint had an easy answer.

"Cape to Cape is hands down my favourite event of the year," she said. "The Crew, the stages, the community. Cape brings together all the things I love about bike racing.

"Racing in the morning, checking out local breweries and vineyards with mates in the arvo! Cape is the end of the season for most of us, it's a big celebration and a race we all look forward to."

It is a sentiment echoed by Ivory, "The racing is hard and aggressive, but the overall atmosphere of the week is quite relaxed, and we all have a laugh off the bike."