Crocodile Trophy
Fojtik Snatches Race Lead as Czech Dream Continues
John Flynn - Crocodile Trophy / 22.10.2008
Czech cyclist Ondrej Fojtik is one step closer to achieving his dream of winning the Crocodile Trophy after snatching the leaders jersey from the shoulders of team-mate Tomas Trunschka during today’s second stage from Irvinebank to Koombooloomba Dam in Tropical North Queensland. For the second day in succession the Czech VIG+ Racing team put the hammer down in a determined effort to split the race apart. It was a tactic that brought the same reward as yesterday, a one-two-three podium finish for the Czechs, who are far exceeding pre-race expectations with a thoroughly dominant performance.
Fojtik and team-mate Ivan Rybarik escaped from the lead bunch at the fifty kilometre mark, de-spite the combined efforts of Australia’s Merida Flight Centre Team, Belgian champion Nicolas Ver-meulen and Rockstar Racing’s Craig Gordon, who worked together to limit the damage.
In the end Fojtik gifted the stage win to his team-mate, who helped the two-time second place getter at Australia’s outback classic into the race lead for the first time.
“For me this is my third time at the Crocodile Trophy and it is the first time I have taken the leader’s jersey, so this is very special for me,� Fojtik said.
Rybarik was equally pleased with claiming his first stage victory at the Crocodile Trophy and the second successive stage win for his team, in what is, so far, a totally dominant performance.
“Yeah it was very good, I went with Ondrej around fifty kilometres and Ondrej said we will go until the finish,� Rybarik said. “For me this is great and for the team this is perfect.
“In our country this race is very popular and I think in professional cycling it’s very great when you can win this race overall and win two stages.�
Again today, the other key protagonists of the Crocodile Trophy were left emotionally, if not physically exhausted as their latest plan to work together to unseat the dominant team at this year’s race came unstuck. At least the weather has been kind to the riders with mild daytime temperatures and cool nights. It’s the Czech’s that are leaving the would-be contenders feeling dazed and confused.
Belgian marathon MTB Champion Nic Vermuelen appears to be running out of ideas, but is hoping tomorrow will be a different story as the race heads onto the famed “Powerline Track� for a stage of pure mountain biking.
“It was the same like yesterday today, the block of the Czech team, there are too many good riders,� Vermeulen admitted. “Maybe I’m physically the best but they attack with two guys, I went after them, but it was too difficult.� See All Event Posts
