Crocodile Trophy

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Ready to Croc!

News Release / 19.10.2010

More than 75 athletes from 16 different countries, including the complete podium of last year's event, kicked off the Crocodile Trophy in Cairns today at 9.30am. The 16th edition of the hardest mountain bike adventure race in the world, leads racers across proven trails. Organisers however, were challenged today by the torrential rain that fell over the past few days: due to a mudslide the first stage, which was scheduled to run from Cairns to the Atherton Tablelands through a rainforest, had to be diverted after 25km and restarted.

The Swiss rider Urs Huber, Crocodile Trophy Overall Winner in 2009, dealt with the sudden changes on the day, completing the remaining 65km after the restart in 2:35.11 hours and won by 4.32 minutes ahead of last year's second, Bart Brentjens.

“It was extremely difficult. The terrain was very slippery and muddy and was constantly slightly uphill. It always felt like getting stuck“, says Huber. “I'm very glad and happy about the time gap that I was able to gain today“, admitted the obviously relieved titleholder. After leading the race together with Bart Brentjens already before the restart, he was able to shake off his fiercest competitor only during the long final climb. “I didn't eat enough during the race pause. My brother did give me a bar and there was fruit at the depot, but towards the end I became extremely hungry and ran out of energy“, explained the Dutch rider from the Trek Brentjens Mountainbike Racing Team.

The Canadian Cory Wallance used the involuntary break after 15 race and 10 neutralised kilomentres for a power nap – and was successful with this tactic: third place for the 26-year old Canadian, who was still affected by strains of riding to second place in the 24Hour Solo World Championships in Canberra nine days ago.

<b>Australians finishing strong</b>

Fastest woman of the day was Australian Abby McLennan. “It seems so much longer and harder than last year’s race“, said Abby. “The climbs never seemed to end. It was just up up up.�

This year to get Abby onto the podium again for the second year running she and husband Scott (51) have teamed up with local ‘cop’ Brendan Skerke to race the croc as Team ‘Rattle N Hum’. Brendon had a tough stage this stage but this was planned. He says “I knew this stage would be my Achilles heel of the race, but I’m learning from it and looking forward to the next 9 days, but tough day�. See All Event Posts