The 20th Crocodile Trophy is now just around the corner – and the stage plans have now been finalised. Gone are endless days of dirt roads with corrugations, the back to back days of 7hrs in the saddle, and the camps where you’re given a shovel for when nature calls. The race now tackles the singletrack of Atherton, the hard course at Irvinebank, and many of the trails used in the RRR from Wetherby to Port Douglas.
Stage 1 – Smithfield (5 laps): 35 km/900 m
A cross country race at Smithfield Mountain Bike Park, home of the 2nd round of the UCI World Cup in 2014, with plenty of snaking trails, steep climbs and rollercoaster descents to make sure everyone gets a singletrack fix right from the start.
Stage 2 – Cairns – Lake Tinaroo: 89 km/2500 m (+13 km neutralized)
This is a classic point to point route, up from Cairns on a sealed climb to Lake Morris, and then over the Great Dividing Range, through farm land on dirt roads, and then on the long, seemingly endless climb over Mt Edith, topping out around 1200m. The descent to Lake Tinaroo is blindingly fast through the rainforest, before a fast finish on the dirt road alongside the lake. Be warned, it is further than you think. Take a dip when you finish – it’s worth it.
Lake Tinaroo – home for the night
Stage 3 – Lake Tinaroo – Atherton: 69 km/2400 m (+18 km neutralized)
The pure mountain biking begins! After a neutral roll through cane fields, the race heads into Atherton Mountain Bike park, for three laps of purpose built singletrack. There is a deceptive amount of climbing in the cloud mountains – be prepared for a solid day on the trails.
Stage 4 – Atherton – Atherton: 83 km/2500 m
Another epic day of mountain bike racing, with a climb through the Atherton trails before a long loop near Herberton, before returning back through the Atherton trails. You ride on the plateau the whole time, between 800 and 1000m altitude. Probably not what you would expect in Far North Queensland?
Atherton holds plenty of singletrack. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith
Stage 5 – Atherton – Irvinebank: 93 km/1500 m
A bit of classic Croc country, as soon after you have left the trails of Atherton, you end up on some rough back roads and 4WD trails, moving towards Irvinebank. No doubt the locals will keep you entertained at the pub. And the chips are good there too.
Stage 6 – Irvinebank – Irvinebank: 109 km/2400 m
Previously the Irvinebank Kermesse, 4 laps of brutality around the mining roads and pig hunting tracks that the local population has developed. Now, a big loop of over 100km, finishing again on the mango tree lined main street of Irvinebank. Hopefully the band is on tonight too.
The hard road to Irvinebank
Stage 7 – Irvinebank – Skybury Coffee Plantation: 131 km/1300 m
The longest stage of the 2014 Croc Trophy, but one of the flatter ones. After the climb out of Irvinebank you race down a long downhill to the fertile farmlands of the plateau, before 40km of flase flat with a considerable bump at the end delivers you to Skybury Coffee Plantation for a well deserved brew and park up.
Stage 8 – Skybury Coffee Plantation – Wetherby Station: 94 km/900 m
Racing through Kuranda State Forest, you will know exactly why you have ventured to Far North Queensland for this mountain bike race. Riding through yet another kind of environment helps create a great travel experience, whether you’re at the front or the back of the race. This will be a special stage. Plus, it’s pretty flat, expect about 3hrs for the race winner, or less.
Bump track DH. Part of your time trial into Port Douglas. Photo: Tim Bardsley-Smith
Stage 9 – Wetherby – Port Douglas (Time Trial): 32 km/300 m
The final stage is short, and certainly sweet. A plummeting run off the plateau once you have left Wetherby Station, down the historical Bump Track, which was the old road from the port to the farms. Now it’s a rolling downhill with fast open sections, wait-a-while vines on the sides, and some pretty major waterbars to send you air born in fright or ecstacy. The final run up the beach will be a TT of pain, but on one of the prettiest beaches in Australia.