Bettin to Spearhead \'Biggest Ever\' Crocodile Trophy

John Flynn Crocodile - Trophy Event Media / 07.10.2007

Italy\'s Mauro Bettin, the former UCI mountain bike Marathon World Cup Champion will attempt to lay his “crocodile curse” to rest when he spearheads a record field in the Crocodile Trophy of 2007 in Australias north later this month.

A two-time protagonist in Australia\'s greatest endurance cycling event, Bettin will be desperately hoping this, the 13th staging of the Outback classic, will bring the luck which has so far deserted him, as he attempts to lead the Felt Dream Team to victory.

“Mauro is a fine rider, a great competitor and we welcome his return to the Crocodile Trophy,” race supremo Gerhard Schoenbacher said.

“But Mauro is on notice that this will be a tougher assignment as we have the biggest and without question, the strongest field in the event\'s history.”

At the peak of his powers when he toured Australia in 2005, Bettin was close to blowing the race apart when his tyre perished on the loneliest, most remote part of the course, between Blencoe Falls and koombooloomba. Close to tears, the Italian champion rode for 20 kilometres on a rim, but could only watch as Australian Adam Hansen cruised by, en-route to his second race victory.

In 2007 Bettin will have outstanding support in the shape of Luxembourg\'s Benoit Joachim (Astana), the vastly experienced European Max Becker and hard as nails Australian domestique Darren O\'Grady (a 2006 stage winner).