Crocodile Trophy
Huber Holds off Brentjens to Win Stage One
John Flynn / 21.10.2009
Swiss mountain biker Urs Huber yesterday produced a magnificent marathon performance to win the most challenging mountain stage ever served up to competitors in Australia's Crocodile Trophy. Huber, who was rated by former World and Olympic Champion Bart Brentjens as one of the main contenders for the overall prize, managed to live up to expectation by attacking Brentjens repeatedly on the final mountain climb of the Crocodile Trophy's opening 98 kilometre stage from Cairns to Lake Tinaroo. In the process, the Swiss World Marathon Championship bronze medallist asserted himself as a genuine threat for the General Classification, establishing a lead over Brentjens of just over two minutes on a stage that featured more than 2400 metres of climbing.
"I know this stage today is a stage like in Switzerland with very big hills and I know it's my day, it's great to win the first stage here," Huber said when he reached the finish line at Lake Tinaroo. "I saw on the first climb that I'm very strong, but after that there came 30 kilometre flats and it was not good to be alone, so I wait for Bart and we worked together."
On the final 1200 metre climb of Mount Edith, the highest dirt road in Queensland, Huber launched a series of spirited attacks. Brentjens responded, once, then twice, but on the third occasion, The Great Dutchman's age won out over his eternally youthful spirit.
"Yeah he attacked in the beginning but then I came back easily," Brentjens said. "There was the big climb coming at the end, he knows it, I know it as well and he attacked at the bottom."
Struggling for breath, there was little time for the former World and Olympic Champion to enjoy the view, on a stage that he will long remember, especially for the scenery.
"It was really beautiful, what we did today was a really nice ride," Brentjens said. "The scenery was incredibly nice but it was hard as well and it was hot in some parts."
Stage one of the Crocodile Trophy proved to be a nightmare day for the visiting Slovenians, Jure Robic and Matej Mugerli, who were both expected to contend for the overall podium. Robic, a four-time solo winner of the Race Across America lost valuable minutes after taking a wrong turn at a well signposted intersection. Mugerli fared far worse. The former Pro Tour stage winner crashed heavily at the front of the lead group on the first major descent of the day. He was transported to hospital after sustaining a potentially serious concussion, exiting his first Crocodile Trophy campaign after barely one hour on the trail. See All Event Posts
