The insiders guide to the 2010 Crocodile Trophy

2009 Crocodile Trophy winner Urs Huber ©Crocodile Trophy

The 2010 Crocodile Trophy gets underway on Tuesday with a strong European contingent in Australia to compete at what is widely regarded as the world’s hardest mountain-bike stage race. All eyes will be on Urs Huber, last year’s winner and former marathon World championships medalist.

Belgian mountain-bike legend Bart Brentjens has also returned and will attempt to reverse the result of last year’s race, which saw him finish just under a minute and a half behind his Swiss rival. But the race has an incredibly deep field, with seasoned racers and newcomers all traveling to far North Queensland to test their mettle.

Adam Socha, who finished twelfth in the 2004 edition of ‘the Croc’, told us what the participants can expect at the race. “It was my first ever stage race, so I was motivated, having heard a lot about the race. It was tougher than many expected. After just a few days the peloton had been re-shaped to only those who were able to keep their body and mind together.

“In that race there’s not much of a point doing anything more than your body will accept, for the simple reason, that the next day it will be the same or worse.”

But for those that do survive the treacherous course, there is just reward at the finish. “I was really glad when we finally reached the finish line in Cape Tribulation. My motivation throughout the race had been based on one thing alone: reach the finish without losing too much time to the guys next to me.”

With the start list released by race organizers this week, many are making their predictions of how the event – which has been won by a European rider since 2005 – will be raced and won. Socha believes the pattern will be similar to previous years.

“I think it would be a typical scenario, meaning there will be some fast European riders and there will be some Aussies that know what to expect from Queensland’s heat. I hope it will be as good as it usually is. And I hope that an Aussie can win it again, although I believe the last time an Australian won it was Adam Hansen.”

Urs Huber and Bart Brentjens (right) lead the field at the 2010 Crocodile Trophy ©Crocodile Trophy

Hansen’s victory in 2005 caught the attention of professional road teams and he has raced as a European pro with HTC-Columbia for the last few years. In a reversal of sorts this year’s Crocodile Trophy will witness the participation of a number of former road professionals, including Tour de France stage winner Jaan Kirsipuu from Estonia and Réne Haselbacher from Austria.

Nick Both, who raced the event in 2008 in support of then-Merida-Flight Centre teammate Tim Bennett, predicted that some of the mountain-bike converts will have problems on the first stage. “There is a climb right out of Cairns, and I think some of the riders, namely Jan Kirsipuu, may have problems with that,” he said. 

The ten-stage Croc will cover over 1000 kilometres, much of which will be raced over more technical terrain in the past few years – but they are not the only hardships, said Socha.

“It is more than just heat and dust, add some humidity and flies… I remember one stage we drank over 14 litres of water that day. Honestly, I couldn’t look at water or any isotonic drink after the race.”

Mountain-bike stage racing presents its own challenges when you can no longer stomach the food or beverages on offer. Socha and some of his fellow competitors employed their own strategy.

“I reached for light XXXX beers and it was great! Low percentage beer doesn’t dehydrate and actually many other riders were doing exactly the same that day.”

While Both avoided Queensland’s XXXX, he certainly agreed that the event presents unique challenges that alter stage-by-stage. Fatigue and mechanical issues just some of the difficulties presented.

“Stage three is littered with big rocks. A lot of people come unstuck here,” he said. “Some people also go too light with equipment. There was a Czech rider in 2008 who cracked his carbon tubular wheel and blew out seven spokes. You can’t use parts like that up there, not without continual team support and spares.”

The finish of stage six at the 2008 Crocodile Trophy ©Crocodile Trophy

While the race is traditionally dominated by a select number of riders, others can have their opportunity. The race’s middle stages often offer some respite from the continual onslaught. Both himself benefited from the cessation of hostilities on stage six in 2008, where the race leaders decided to keep things together, leaving the stage open for opportunists. “It was about 100 kilometres of open, dusty roads. There was nothing technical. We went up the road, and I was happy to get third on the day.”

Since its inception in 1995, The Crocodile trophy has morphed from an ultra-distance event on corrugated dirt roads and sand tracks into a technically and physically demanding mountain bike stage race. Both said the technical stage nine will offer a great opportunity to shake up the standings on the penultimate day of the event. “Everyone will need to have their mountain-bike skills sharp. You’re tired, and you pay for any small mistakes.”

Those who have completed ‘the Croc’ say it has a pull that makes them want to return. Multiple competitor Struan Lamont feels the Croc is “a way of life” and has lost track of the amount of international friendships the race has given him as he heads into yet another edition this year.

Socha feels the pull of the event but knows there are limiting factors. “Stage racing requires serious preparation before the event, and these days as a young father, I simply don’t have that time available. However, in the future who knows… It would be nice to go and refresh the memories, maybe 10 years after I did it the first time.”

The 2010 Crocodile Trophy start list