The Crocodile Trophy
Scorpions, Broken Bikes and Stage Wins
John-Michael Flynn / 24.10.2005
It is a tradition in cycling to celebrate a stage victory with a glass of champagne at the team dinner. And even in the wilds of Outback Australia, such traditions are vigorously upheld.But the Felt Shimano Dream Team will have much more to be joyous about tonight, considering all 5 of its riders made it to the finish line today, relatively intact and ready to fight on for their team leader. That in itself could be considered a minor miracle!
As it stands, the Dream Team’s main man, Marathon World Cup Champion Mauro Bettin, is locked in an enticing battle for the General Classification of the world’s toughest off-road cycling event and will need every ounce of energy his team-mates can muster as he tries to peg back a 23 minute gap to reigning Crocodile Trophy champion Adam Hansen.
The Dream Team’s day begin with drama this morning when ‘super-domestique’ David Wood fell victim to one of the many hazards of Outback Australia, a scorpion sting. The native North Queenslander ignored the pain and rode on. Had he known what lay ahead, he might have been better off not to!
“Yere I got bitten by a scorpion, hurt I s’pose,� Wood said in his unique Northern drawl.
“Christie’s (team Directeur Sportif Christie Valentine-Anderson) been at me all week for wearing thongs instead of boots.�
It was just the beginning of the nightmares for the Felt-Shimano Dream Team.
In no particular order, team member Jenz Zemke collided with a support vehicle which became stuck in a ditch (fortunately he wasn’t seriously injured), Kai Hundertmarck required a minor operation on course when a stick became lodged in his arm, Hundertmarck then broke a rear seat stay on his bike during a punishing technical stage and Wood was forced to walk the best part of twenty kilometres after handing his bike to the German.
“It was a really bad day for me today,� Hundertmarck admitted with little need for reflection.
“I hit a tree then a piece of wood got in my arm, then like 3k’s later my frame broke, then I got stuck on the hill, start walking.�
Still, had Wood not turned up to offer his bike, Hundertmarck’s day might just have got a lot .. lot worse.
“He’s a great guy and I’m really happy he give me his bike,� Hundertmarck said of his faithful domestique.See All Event Posts
