Strongest ever men's open solo field assembled for 2025 Cape to Cape MTB

Some of Australia's best mountain bikers will descend on the South West of Western Australia, with the strongest ever men's open solo field assembled for the 2025 Cape to Cape MTB race, to be held 16-19 October 2025.

More than 900 riders are expected for Australia's largest and most popular mountain bike stage race with elite riders including Australian and Oceania Champions and Olympians, to regular participants, mountain bike enthusiasts and new riders lining up.

Covering nearly 200 kilometres across four stages, the race starts at the most South Western point of Australia at Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse, with stops in Nannup and Margaret River before finishing at Cape Naturaliste.

Leading the field is defending champion Cameron Ivory, who last year claimed the overall title to go with previous victories in the men's pairs and mixed pairs category.

Brent Rees, who won his second Oceania Mountain Bike Marathon title in September is also back after finishing second on all four stages and as the overall runner up a year ago.

Rising star and WA local Connor Wright who recently finished sixth in the under 19 category at the 2025 UCI Mountain Bike World Championships in Valais, Switzerland will take to the start eyeing a maiden title.

Former winners including four-time Olympian Daniel McConnell and Tasman Nankervis are chasing a second victory. Other names to watch out for include 2024 mixed pairs winner Karl Michelin-Beard, Reece Tucknott and Joel Green.

The race has attracted one of Australia's most successful athletes in dual Olympic and World Champion sailor Matt Wearn who will line up for the first time.

In partnership with the Perth Children's Hospital Foundation (PCHF), former Survivor and The Bachelor contestant Locky Gilbert will ride as an Official Ride Ambassador for PCHF.

Outside the elite riders, Cape to Cape MTB Legends Bruno Wicki and Rowan Brown who have completed every edition of the race, will line up for the seventeenth time. 2024 men's pairs winners Jon Gregg and Nathan Jones will line up in their fifteenth and ninth editions respectively, this time racing solo. With 16 riders competing in at least their tenth Cape to Cape.

In the women's field, newly crowned Oceania Mountain Bike Marathon Champion Sarah Tucknott, who also claimed bronze at the Australian Championships will race in the blue and white Oceania Champions jersey as she looks to add the Cape to Cape MTB title to her growing list of wins.

The interstate competition will be led by 2024 runner up Izzy Flint, who is eying the solo crown to go with her mixed pairs victory from 2021 and Em Viotto who after claiming the mixed pairs last year also has her eye on the solo category.

Margaret River local Dianne James will line up for the sixteenth time in a race that has become her second home, along with other regulars including Kristen Gardner, Jo Bennett and Tracey Chapman.

For the first time, the open women will start stage three, 45 minutes before the men, which will allow the women's field to race on their own and further grow female participation.

The 2025 edition of Cape to Cape MTB also sees the return of a pre-race prologue. The Invitational Mixed Team Relay Prologue will be held on Wednesday October 15 at Nipper's Oval in Margaret River at 5:30pm. 10-15 pairs will be randomly partnered to contest the invitational event from across the open field and selected invited riders.

Held as part of a family festival, which will also include Cape Kids, a chance for kids aged 6-17 to be involved with the event. Cape Kids starts at 4:00pm with entries still open at https://capetocapemtb.com

Race Director and Co-owner Bill Hayes said, "We are delighted to have attracted many of the best in Australia including defending champion Cam Ivory, plus riders like Brent, Sarah, Connor, Dan and Izzy back for what will be the strongest ever solo field.

"Beyond the open field we are thrilled to have Matt Wearn an Olympic gold medallist in sailing, as well as hundreds of mountain bike enthusiasts, with many returning every year to participate in this great event."

"Cape to Cape MTB really is an event for everyone with people aged from 16 to over 80 from across the world, who all share common love of riding offroad on two wheels. Whatever your reason for riding we look forward to welcoming you to the picturesque South West region."

"This year we have also introduced Cape Kids and brought back a prologue for some of the open riders on the Wednesday prior to the start. Both Cape Kids and the prologue will be held at Nipper's Oval in the heart of Margaret River, bringing the race as close as possible to the community."

Cape to Cape MTB is supported by the WA Government through Tourism Western Australia and Local Government partners the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Nannup and City of Busselton, as well as Margaret River Busselton Tourism Association, Airbnb, PedalMafia, Caravans WA, CBCo, Cycliq, Giant, KC Australia, PURE Sports Nutrition, CambelBak and Hertz.