Crocodile Trophy - NE

Australia, October 17-29, 2006

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Race 1 - October 17: Townsville - Townsville, 15 km

Wet and windy start to Crocodile Trophy 2006

By John Michael Flynn

43 competitors take to the start
Photo ©: John Flynn

Back-to-back Prologue victories for Stevens

In a repeat of his 2005 performance, Belgian Christophe Stevens kicked off his 2006 Crocodile Trophy Campaign with a tempting prologue victory on the palm-fringed beach at Townsville in Tropical North Queensland today. Under dark, wet skies in the sweaty tropics, the former Chocolade Jacques pro road cyclist, who was unsure of his form until the midday race start, answered his own questions and those of fellow competitors by joining Austrian powerhouse Heinz Zorweg in a two man breakaway.

The pair, who on today's form shape as the two serious contenders for the 2006 Croc Trophy, blasted away the field of 43 riders (from 14 countries), to gain more than a minute on G.C., not that the margin will matter with twelve punishing stages and 1400 kilometres ahead.

This pair decided
Photo ©: John Flynn

"It was really hard compared to last year, the wind was just the opposite," Stevens said. "The beach was so hard on the legs."

The Belgian, who has been talking down his pre-race conditioning after training in Australia's Dandenong ranges where he lives with wife Anita whom he met on the Crocodile Trophy two years ago, knows from experience there is a long way to go in the race, rated by many as one of cycling's toughest.

"This is only one day, 12 kilometres - tomorrow's a bit different," Stevens said. "I don't know where I'm going to be after 130 - 140 kilometres. We'll see...but I know Heinz is the man to follow. Heinz is always strong, he can go 40-kilometres per hour for seven hours."

Austria's Heinz Zörweg
Photo ©: John Flynn

Zorweg, the quietly spoken mountain man from the Alps, has had a strong year in endurance mountain biking with a string of podium results in his home country, and appears set to challenge Stevens on the long road to Cape Tribulation in Far North Queensland where the race will end in two weeks time.

"I knew from the start that it was myself and Christophe can win the race so we went away from the group," Zorweg said. "It was not so hard today and I feel in good shape."

First Australian across the line today was the Felt Shimano Dream Team's Darren O'Grady in 11th place.

Austrian Dominique Angerer, one of two women competing in this year's Croc Trophy was the first woman to finish in 23rd place outright.

FELT - Shimano Dream Team diary

Photography

For a thumbnail gallery of these images, click here

Images by John Flynn

This pair decided man power is the key to tackling the Croc' trophy
Austria's Heinz Zörweg started the event as favourite
Austrian Stefan Rucker is competing with Elk Haus
Belgian bike power's Christoph Stevens
43 competitors take to the start of the world's toughest MTB race
Ole Egeblad of Denmark on the beach in Townsville
Mel Grant beachcombing
Marco Buecken on the beach during the prologue
Guy Lemmens during the opening prologue
Frederik Dewilde of Belgium blasts along the beach in the prologue
Dominique Angerer of Austria the fastest woman during the prologue
Darren OGrady not a prologue specialist when it comes to racing on the beach
Canadian Shane Laird enjoying a beach run during the prologue

Results

1 Christoph Stevens (BEL) Belgian Bike Power                      0.28.11
2 Valentin Zeller (AUS) Dream Team                                  
3 Darren O'Grady (AUS) Dream Team                                   
4 David Wood (USA) Dream Team                                       
5 Fred/Francesco Gras/Wessels (NED) Dutch Crocodile Tandem          
6 Stefan Rucker (AUT) Elk Haus                                      
7 Ralf Peter Schnorr (SUI) Fitmanager.de                            
8 Toru Watanabe (JPA) Green Life Tohoku                             
9 Manuel Treven (AUT) Lietz-Sport Team                              
10 Ingmar Brichenfrid (AUT) Lietz-Sport Team                        
11 Harald Reisinger (AUT) Lietz-Sport Team                          
12 Niek Lingier (BEL) Lingier-Versluys MTB-TEAM                     
13 Frederik Dewilde (BEL) Lingier-Versluys MTB-TEAM                 
14 Rik Vincke (BEL) Lingier-Versluys MTB-TEAM                       
15 Erik Baeteman (BEL) Lingier-Versluys MTB-TEAM 2                  
16 Salvador Ribotipons (ESP) Matxacuca - Xaloc                      
17 Attila Marton (HUN) Meditech Sport Club - CIB Leasing            
18 Günter Rafeiner (AUT) Mountainbiker.AT                           
19 Shane Laird (CAN) NSD                                            
20 Joel Geny (BEL) P. Léger Artisan Chocolatier                     
21 Christophe Heinix (BEL) Passage Fitness First Oudaan             
22 Michael Borup (DEN) RT-Adidas-Roadbike Shop                      
23 Cal Burgart (USA) San Diego Cyclo-Vets                           
24 Ronny Potter (BEL) SOWAT                                         
25 Patrick Libert (BEL) SOWAT                                       
26 Ole Egeblad (DEN) Team Descente - CSC                            
27 Christophe Desimpelaere (BEL) Team Descente - CSC                
28 Erik Goeleven (BEL) Team MI Croc for Sofhea                      
29 Luc Gielen (BEL) Team MI Croc for Sofhea                         
30 Guy Lemmens (BEL) Team MI Croc for Sofhea                        
31 Struan Lamont (AUS) Team Scott Racing                            
32 Heinz  Zörweg (AUT) Team Zörweg                                  
33 Marco Bücken (SUI) Tri Team Glarnerland                          
34 Roger Freixenet (ESP) Yorky's                                    
35 Dominique Angerer (AUT)                                          
36 Hansi Friedl (BRD)                                               
37 Charles Blanc (FRA)                                              
38 William Bird (AUS)                                               
39 Fulvio Villano (ITA)                                             
40 Melanie Grant (AUS)                                              

Fastest woman

1 Dominique Angerer (AUT)                                         0.41.01