Crocodile Trophy
Sir Bart Repeats Last Year's Win
News Release / 20.10.2010
Looks like the Granite Gorge stage was to Bart Brentjens liking. Like last year, the previous Olympic Winner and World Champion picked up his first Croc-stage win on the track through the Atherton Tablelands. And just like in 2009 the race was decided with a final sprint.It was the Austrians Rene Haselbacher and Philipp Ludescher who attacked first on today's short stage from Lake Tinaroo to Granite Gorge. But on the ten kilometre long climb onto Mount Edith the field caught up to the elite road racers. Shortly after the lead group formed with today's (and yesterday's) stage winners: Bart Brentjens (NED), Urs Huber (SUI) and Cory Wallace (CAN).
Again the track lead riders through dense rainforest, open bush land and finally fertile banana plantations and the trio picked up a six-minute lead onto the pursuing group. “The uphill was very tough again because of the wet and muddy terrain, but overall it was a very fast stage�, stage winner Bart Brentjens said of the day's ride. The Dutch rider won the final sprint in 2:24.32, followed by Urs Huber and Cory Wallace who crossed the finish line with three seconds each behind him.
“Today it was definitely an easier stage than yesterday. I had some trouble finding my pace, however, we worked together well and I'm happy with my second place today�, the Swiss rider summed up his day. Cory Wallace, who is used to climbing steep ascents, was thought to have some disadvantages on today's flat last third of the stage, however, was able to stay on the two favourites wheels throughout the entire day.
After the winning trio a pursuing group of seven riders formed with Allan Oras (EST), Mike Mulkens (BEL) and four Austrians: Philipp Ludescher, Christoph Tschellnig, Christoph Sokoll und René Haselbacher. The flat terrain after the food and drinks depot was ideal for the road racers, allowing them to attack fiercely and – with a friendly and windy support from behind – keep the tempo high.
<b>Aussies Sticking Together</b>
Abby McLennan, the Cairns-local, liked the first steep ascents and then flat 71 kilometre stage with 1,250 metres of elevation through the Atherton Tablelands. The Australian secured her second stage win with a strong 28 minute lead ahead of her fellow-Aussie riders Nancy Caceres and Lauretta Howarth. “I trained way more than in 2009. To win the Crocodile Trophy would be fantastic. But a lot can still happen�, says the Rattle N Hum-athlete cautiously despite her respectable lead in the overall classification.
Fastest male Aussie rider across the finish line with the large pursuing group around Mike Mulkens, Allan Oras and the Austrians, was again Taigh Banson (Fitzroy, VIC) from Team Fraser and Mountain. “This is only my second mountain bike race and I really got talked into this. But I enjoyed today – it felt that on the downhills I had an advantage on the others in my group. On the flat final kilometres I let the others sprint to the finish�, he says of his fantastic overall 9th place in today's stage.See All Event Posts
