Never Say Never - Rucker to Bite Back at Crocodile.

John Flynn / 14.08.2007

Austrian Stefan Rucker (Elk Haus) entered the 2006 Croc Trophy in career-best form, but his dream of winning the coveted classic went horribly off-track when he took a wrong turn on the opening stage. “Stefan went up a dry gully last year , as you Australians would say,” Race Director Gerhard Schoenbacher commented as the parcours for the 2007 event was revealed. “He gets another chance this year, but the course will be tougher and the competition stronger in what I believe will be the most competitive Crocodile Trophy we have yet seen.”

The retirement of 2006 winner Christophe Stevens has opened up the race in 2007, and all eyes are on the return of consistent Hungarian Attila Marton, Czech hard-man Andrej Fojtik and the rider who had victory in his sights in 2006, Dane Michael Borup. In a similar cruel twist of fate to Rucker, a navigational error cost Borup (Team Ghost) dearly in last year\'s race, but the Dane fought back to record numerous stage wins – vowing all the while to return “gladiator style” in 2007 and seek his vengeance.