Catching up on the Croc – Irvinebank to Skybury Coffee Plantation

So far the 20th Crocodile Trophy has been a little different to years past. Firstly, it’s a UCI sanctioned race, which means guaranteed prize money for elite riders – and a lot of ranking points on offer too. This has also brought a slight change to how the race is run – starts are prompt, rules are mostly enforced – but the Croc style of winging it doesn’t seem to fly.

Today our start was pushed to 10am, instead of 8am, as there were deemed to be problems with the route. There was a sense amongst Croc veterans that Gerhard would have sorted it out and we would be off by 8am – but the announcement came from the UCI commisaire and was pretty firm. No further discussion.

And so, we set off for about 100km in outback Queensland in the heat of the day. Thanks UCI.

With cooler weather, shorter stages, and two days that were almost entirely singletrack, some might think they were lacking the true ‘Croc’ experience. Well stage 6 delivered what was missing.

Straight out of town we went back up Mt Misery. Groups split, everyone grovelled, and the sun was beating down. We raced along back dirt roads and firetrails on what seemed to be the tour of the reservoirs. We rode past so many reservoirs, in sketchy echelons due to the wind. And we didn’t get to stop for a swim at any of them!

For better or for worse, this style of Croc felt very familiar. Riding in a bunch, following wheels, getting your nose in the wind often enough to do your share, and playing countless mental games with yourself to not just let go. To not just give in and admit it’s too much. It’s too hot, you’re too sore. Just one more rolling climb. It was tough.

Half way in the fun started, as we went more onto a pure 4WD or even quad bike trail. There was about one rideable line and I was happy following Jason Chalkers wheel. Our grip splintered pretty rapidly, and then Yuki Ikeda decided he was feeling ok again and disappeared. Chalker flatted, Belgians attacked, a German rider ditched his gel wrapper, I arced up at him and pushed on, hoping the increase in pace would cause him to crash.

This middle part of the stage was shaped by flat tyres – somehow I got through unscathed. Probably due to tyre choice. There was a lot of loose and sharp rock out there, and too many erosion gullies were crossed at speed, and yet I was ok.

But the closing 25km was dirt road, and a group of three who had flatted caught up, and we got to the line together (more or less). This was the Croc. Hard, hot, longer than you’d like, but rewarding when you finish. I sat in the lake to cool off. The lake at Irvinebank is ok, but it’s sort of like a hotel spa. You wouldn’t want to put your head under water, and you certainly want a shower afterwards.

Cory Wallace won today, partly by opting not to stop at the 3rd depot.

“Today was a true Croc stage, long, hard and hot.”

Full results and GC are available online.

Stage 7 – Irvinebank to Skybury

After yesterday’s classic Croc stage it looked like stage 7 might offer another of the same. But we had a new stage finish, Skybury Coffee Plantation. But the start was the same. Talking with Cory Wallace, we wondered if the road out of Irvinebank would be as it was when we used to race to the cattle station at Mt Mulligan = a broken up old track that could only be navigated by a couple of the quad bikes. And mountain bikes of course.

As we left the mango tree lined road through Irvinebank, the pace was gratefully relaxed. This is both a benefit and a curse. It can mean riders who would otherwise be shelled early on are further up the bunch when things get tough, but it does also let your legs warm up a little. There were a lot of unfamiliar faces in the group at first, but when Martin Wisata took advantage of the easier pace by going up the road, and then Andrew Hall did the same once Martin was back, the pace kept a higher tempo. We turned left towards the broken up old track, and the pressure was on. I was last wheel and dangling, so the selection had been made.

Outback Queensland is always dry, but right now it’s super dry. We hooked left down a farm trail and the dirt was like talcom powder. It was hard to see if you weren’t at the front, and the rocky, eroded double track took at least half a dozen people out with punctures from the ruts, rocks and drifting into too many sharp things.

We heard a good bunch formed ahead, and we had a good small group ourselves, as we rode a lot of open small farm roads into what seemed like a permanent head wind. It hurt. I grovelled. And slowly, I burnt too many matches.

We hit the 100km mark and things got rough and technical again. More riders were stopped with flats – swearing at their bikes. But as I dropped off the back of the group, very determined riders who had flatted started to catch up. You can never sit up in a stage race!

The finale was tiring. More wind. More false flat. Corrugations. Dust. It was another hard Croc stage.

Marton Blazso (Hungary) won the stage today ahead of Cory Wallace. Greg Saw still holds the lead.

Imogen Smith leads Elite women, and was fastest woman, riding a great stage in heavy winds.

The camp is now rejoicing in having phone reception, and a restaurant and coffee shop nearby. Two days to go until we’re in Port Douglas.

Full results will be available online shortly.