And while the final stage belonged to Italy's champion Mauro Bettin, it was Adam Hansen, the local hero, who raised the biggest cheers from the crowd on magnificent Four Mile Beach, as he claimed his second successive Crocodile Trophy Victory.
It was a tribute to the rediscovered mental toughness of the Australian that after a season of self-doubt on the lonely roads of Europe where he is yet to make a name for himself in road cycling, he could return home and beat the best in the world, in a race which he has made his own.
When the minutes were finally tallied for the general classification at the end of today's beach criterium, Hansen had maintained a fifteen minute margin over his nearest rival Bettin, bringing to an end a memorable contest.
The entire 2005 Crocodile Trophy mountain bike stage race reports, results and photos
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Stage 1 - October 18: Townsville - Townsville, 70 km
Stage 2 - October 19: Kirkland Downs – Paluma Dam, 112 km
Stage 3 - October 20: Paluma Dam – Lake Lucy, 148 km
Stage 4 - October 21: Lake Lucy – Blancoe Falls, 134 km
Stage 5 - October 22: Blancoe Fall - Koombooloomba, 104 km
Stage 6 - October 23: Koombooloomba - Irvinebank, 98 km
Stage 7 - October 24: Irvinebank - Chillagoe, 115 km
