Star cyclist Colin Ottaway sets record time on Gnowangerup 440km Wild Gravel Trail to celebrate its opening

Renowned cyclist and Indian Pacific Wheel Race 2022 winner Colin Ottaway set a record time on Gnowangerup’s new 440km gravel loop. To celebrate the opening of the Wild Gravel Trail, Ottaway rode from 5am to 11pm on Tuesday, completing 428km of the loop in 17 hours and 3 minutes, averaging 25km/h with a total stop time of one hour. The 90 per cent gravel loop leads from Gnowangerup to Ongerup, past Bluff Knoll along Stirling Range Drive, south to Mount Barker, and northward via Kendenup, Cranbrook, Tambellup, Broomehill and Katanning, before returning to Gnowangerup. Ottaway said he was proud to complete the track by 11pm as he was prepared for a midnight or 1am finish. The star cyclist said the ride was wonderful and a great adventure. “Riding on different roads and quiet gravel roads is beautiful,” he said. “Every now and again a salt lake pops up, alpacas, things you see in the paddocks, the Stirling Ranges. “It was really nice when the stars came out and we got a lightening show as well that was pretty specky, and there was a fire on a horizon by Broomehill, the glow looked cool.” Ottaway said he would love to return to the loop with a friend and spend a few days on the track. The trail was inspired by the success of Wild Gravel established in October 2024, a gravel cycling and running event held in the Stirling Ranges. The loop allows riders to enjoy the sport and scenic views year-round, which Ottaway said he hopes that cycle tourism can help the small towns thrive. He said he hopes to inspire others to push themselves. “If it inspires other people to challenge themselves, push themselves or gain some belief about what they can do, great, because the body is remarkably capable,” Ottaway said. “If we give it the opportunity to do things it’s surprising how well we can go. “I’m just a normal guy, I’m not elite, I’m not training hard, but I just believe I can.”