Your guide to spectating the Cape to Cape MTB

For spectators, that means front-row access to some seriously spectacular scenery, with an excellent excuse for good coffee, food, wine and exploring. The 2026 event runs from 15-18 October, with stages in Augusta, Nannup, Margaret River and Dunsborough.

Whether you’re cheering for a partner, mate, parent or cycling-mad kid, here’s how to make the most of being a C2C spectator.

Hero image by Daniela Tommasi.

The first rule of C2C spectating? Don’t try to chase the race.

The course covers almost 200 kilometres across four days, with riders travelling through forests, farmland, private property, mountain bike parks and stunning coastline.

The event team has identified specific spectator-friendly locations, so use these across each of the four days rather than trying to find your own viewing points.

Start with the big one.

Here, riders depart from beneath the iconic Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse before heading into the forests and trails around Augusta. For excellent viewing on course, C2C recommends parking near the bottom of Greenhill Road and walking up towards the designated viewing area at the Greenhill Road/Diana Road intersection.

Get there early, watch the riders fly through the descent, then head back towards the lighthouse to catch them at the finish.

Make your way to Tank 7 Mountain Bike Park, where a spectator shuttle helps move supporters between the event area and viewing point.

Alternatively, Foreshore Park is a great place to watch riders start and finish.

This is the day to stay put.

The Queen Stage starts and finishes at CBCo Brewing, but access to the trails is difficult and some surrounding roads remain open to traffic. The organisers encourage spectators to enjoy the brewery rather than attempting to follow riders around the course.

Did you really need an excuse?

Finish in style at Wise Wine. The start and finish are both at the winery, giving spectators plenty of opportunity to see the action without chasing the course.

It’s also a fitting place to wrap up the event and celebrate with everyone once the riders return.

Spectating is hungry work.

The good news is that you’re in the Margaret River Region, where breakfast, coffee and post-race treats are practically a competitive sport of their own. With so many options available, you’re spoilt for choice.

It’s worth remembering that the race villages themselves are designed to keep supporters comfortable. Each stage’s start and finish area has food and drink, and the race village provides coffee and post-stage refreshments.

Your rider may have trained for months, but there’s still a role for the support crew.

A small day pack can go a long way: water, sunscreen, a hat, snacks, a portable phone charger and a jacket for the famously changeable South West weather. If you’re meeting your rider at the finish, consider packing an extra change of clothes and some easy snacks.

You can also carry spare energy bars or gels if your rider wants them, but check their preferences before filling your bag with an entire sports-nutrition aisle.

Official aid stations are stocked with water, electrolytes, gels, fruit and lollies, so riders have plenty of support on course too.

There’s nothing quite like a rider hearing their name shouted from the sidelines when their legs are turning to jelly.

Cheer for your rider, and everyone else. One of the best things about C2C is the atmosphere created by riders and supporters encouraging each other through four big days.

But be sure to keep yourself, riders and event crews safe. Stay outside the track and use only designated spectator areas. Don’t wander onto the course or attempt to cross in front of riders. Some roads remain open to traffic, while other areas are restricted entirely.

And leave the bush exactly as you found it. Stay on established paths, avoid trampling vegetation, and take your rubbish and food scraps with you.  The event also relies on access to some private land, so helping protect and respect these places helps ensure C2C can keep returning to them.

If you’re travelling with a rider, don’t underestimate the value of getting there early.

Once the bikes are rolling, take the opportunity to explore. The beauty of being a spectator is that you’re not required to spend four hours staring at a trail.

Watch the start, grab breakfast, wander through town, explore the coastline or settle into the race village before heading back for the finish.

That could mean rugged ocean views around Augusta, towering forest near Margaret River, the rolling hills and trails around Nannup, or the coastal landscapes of Dunsborough. In spring, the region can also offer wildflowers and whale-watching opportunities, adding another layer to a weekend already packed with action.

The best part of spectating might be the moment your rider finally appears.

After hours of waiting, cheering and checking your phone, suddenly they’re there, covered in dust, exhausted, maybe grinning, looking for a familiar face.

The finish-line atmosphere is a huge part of C2C. Each stage starts and finishes at the same location, with food, drinks and the daily presentations all happening nearby.

So stick around, grab a drink, swap stories with other supporters and let the rider enjoy their moment.

More than just a mountain bike race, the C2C MTB is really four days of discovering one of Western Australia’s most extraordinary regions. And you don’t need to ride a single kilometre to be part of it.

Ready to plan your spectator adventure? Check the official Cape to Cape MTB website for the latest event information, spectator guidance and updates, then start planning your Margaret River Region getaway.