Cape cycle trek hard and fast
If you thought the Cape to Cape mountain bike race was just a scenic ride through WA's spectacular South West, speak to Albany cyclist Nav Coole.
These photographs capture the moment he ended in a creek bed.
Coole was one of two riders who tried to hit the water at speed - and both attempts ended badly.
"The lead riders were cagey and ran through it," photographer Travis Deane said. "The vast majority of riders followed the tyre tracks on either side."
Deane said Coole had a laugh and got back on his bike.
It was a light-hearted moment in four days and 220km of gruelling racing for the record field of more than 1200 on the track from Cape Leeuwin to Dunsborough.
The sixth Cape to Cape MTB was won by 2011 winner Andy Blair, who was less than two minutes ahead of five-time world MTB orienteering champion Adrian Jackson.
Australian XCM champion Jenny Fay won her second Cape to Cape, finishing the final leg only 18 seconds in front of hometown favourite Jo-Anne Bennett, who was third overall.
Two-time Olympic gold medallist Susie O'Neill said the first 30 minutes were among the most painful of her sporting career.
After taking up mountain biking only a year ago, Madame Butterfly said she underestimated the challenge.
"I am very happy to be off my bike," she said. "It was a bit harder than I expected."
