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Tschellnig takes a superb solo win in Queensland

Cristoph Tschellnig had an absolute blinder today ©Crocodile Trophy/R Stanger

Cristoph Tschellnig had an absolute blinder today ©Crocodile Trophy/R Stanger

Christoph Tschellnig surprised everyone to become the fourth individual stage winner of the 2010 Crocodile Trophy on stage five in Chillagoe on Saturday. It was a good day for Austrian riders with Philipp Ludescher following Tschellnig across the line. Cory Wallace showed he’s still in the fight following mechanical issues several days ago with third.

Tschellnig surprised even himself as he outsmarted his more experienced rivals with an early, but ultimately successful attack. With the riders battling for overall seeing little threat from the Austrian he was given free reign to make good his brave move.

“I attacked at one kilometre, had five mins at the turning point and was let go [by the other riders]. I had 3 flat tyres on the first day so had no chance at the GC, but today when I tried and was let go,” he explained. “I was lucky when Ludescher tried to catch me I was too far for him to catch me.”

The stage winner was understandably elated with his stage win. “I am very proud, I work 40 hours a week as a fitness trainer, so I am not a professional rider and I beat professional riders [today]. I am a former road racer and have been mountain biking for three years now.

“I think it was the fish from yesterday‟s dinner, I don‟t normally eat that much, but I had three serves!” he added.

Wallace, who finished third, took advantage of an incident-free day to focus on his main objective, the points classification. “I had no flat tyres this stage so that was an advantage. It was very hot, and fast. The main guys [Urs Huber and Bart Brentjens] don’t seem to be worried about us guys anymore so I’m just focusing on points, trying when I can.”

Huber and Brentjens continued their mano-a-mano battle to finish in their seemingly traditional succession, in seventh and eighth respectively. Huber indicated that their close marking of one another is something that is unlikely to change before race end.

“It was very hot, I’m happy,” he said after the stage. “[Brentjens and I are] blocked in, we just wait for one of us to go, and the other follows. I think that this will continue for the following stages.”

Abby McLennan once again crossed the line as the first female home but admitted that she had faced a challenging day in the saddle. “That was a hot stage, it felt so much longer than what it really was.

“The rolling hills and pace was so high. The boys are so much better and faster and stronger than me so it’s such a fight to keep the tempo up, the boys [her husband Scott McLennan and Brendon Skerke] kept me going, pushed me, helped me through.”

After two 140+ kilometre stages, Saturday’s stage offered some respite – in terms of distance, at least – at 100km. However, it will be the shortest stage the riders will face before the 38 kilometre final-day time trial at Cape Tribulation on Thursday.

Place Bib Name Nationality Category Time
1 13 Christoph Tschellnig AUT Elite 3:11:26
2 14 Philipp Ludescher AUT Elite 3:13:46
3 25 Cory Wallace CAN Elite 3:15:15
4 34 Christof Mariën BEL M1 3:15:34
5 9 Taigh Banson AUS Elite 3:16:07
6 3 Mike Mulkens BEL Elite 3:17:37
7 15 Allan Oras EST Elite 3:17:45
8 1 Urs Huber SUI Elite 3:17:55
9 2 Bart Brentjens NED Elite 3:17:56
10 24 Réne Haselbacher AUT Elite 3:17:57
11 8 Matthijs Pot NED Elite 3:20:20
12 58 Indrek Kelk EST M2 3:23:59
13 18 Peter Van Mill NED Elite 3:24:01
14 5 Christoph Sokoll AUT Elite 3:24:02
15 41 Raf De Bakker BEL M1 0:12:36
16 79 Hans Dielacher AUS M3 3:24:03
17 38 Roli Zehnder SUI M1 3:25:55
18 37 Rolf Stebler SUI M1 3:26:33
19 59 Kurt Alderweireldt BEL M2 3:31:18
20 65 Hans Mertens BEL M2 3:31:19
21 75 Hans Post NED M3 3:32:44
22 6 Paul Ensink NED Elite 3:35:30
23 50 Jaan Kirsipuu EST M2 3:35:32
24 78 Roger Cull AUS M3 3:36:37
25 10 Marc Locherer AUS Elite 3:39:12
26 46 Franz Preihs AUT M1 3:39:40
27 16 James Lamb AUS Elite 3:39:45
28 98 Klaus Sever AUT E-Bike 3:40:56
29 61 Guido Vangertruyden BEL M2 3:43:45
30 64 Darren Withers AUS M2 3:43:58
31 44 Sjoerd Tilstra NED M1 3:43:59
32 7 Vinne Los NED Elite 3:44:14
33 52 Luuk Belga NED M2 3:44:15
34 57 Lieven Van Poeck BEL M2 3:44:15
35 30 Bert Belga NED M1 3:44:16
36 27 Matthias Schwarze GER M1 3:44:22
37 73 Sjaak Etten NED M3 3:44:25
38 62 Julius Vincze AUT M2 3:44:27
39 42 Martin Wisata AUT M1 3:44:30
40 23 Bart Verberckmoes BEL Elite 3:44:40
41 72 Rudi Stroobants BEL M3 3:46:40
42 81 Leon van den Schoor NED M3 3:46:41
43 31 Mark van Harmelen NED M1 3:51:38
44 43 Rutger van Herpen NED M1 3:54:05
45 91 Abby McLennan AUS Female 3:55:55
46 28 Brendon Skerke AUS M1 3:55:56
47 54 Scott McLennan AUS M2 3:55:56
48 35 Sven Mariën BEL M1 3:55:57
49 36 Michel Haenggi SUI M1 3:55:57
50 82 Joachim Oberföll GER M3 3:55:58
51 56 Michael Foreman AUS M2 3:55:58
52 29 Struan Lamont AUS M1 3:55:58
53 74 Hein Lansbergen NED M3 3:55:59
54 99 Udo Huber AUT E-Bike 4:03:52
55 77 Ivan Whittle AUS M3 4:04:08
56 40 Peter Clayton AUS M1 4:06:07
57 63 Rob Wijnbergen NED M2 4:08:01
58 76 Greg Parr AUS M3 4:08:02
59 53 Johan Wekeman NED M2 4:12:03
60 33 Cas Brentjens NED M1 4:12:04
61 55 Marc Withofs BEL M2 4:13:27
62 70 Harry Beutetrading NED M3 4:13:28
63 71 Weit Heuker NED M3 4:13:31
64 95 Nancy Caceres AUS Female 4:34:36
65 93 Sharman Parr NZL Female 4:45:37
66 96 Lesley Sutton AUS Female 4:50:50
67 92 Lauretta Howarth AUS Female 4:50:50
68 94 Maree Roberts AUS Female 5:20:25
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