There is just one week to go before the 21st Crocodile Trophy kicks off in Tropical North Queensland. The Crocodile Trophy is Australia’s and the World’s oldest and most iconic mountain bike stage race. Since 2014, it has been endorsed by the International Cycling Federation (UCI) with the “S1” ranking and offers valuable points to participants towards their international ranking, which is of even more importance as we come into an Olympic year. Why chase a handful of points trying to not get lapped out in a World Cup when you could bag 120 with a race win at “The Croc”?
From the rainforest on the coast, and into the Outback and back to the beach, the nine days from Cairns, to the Atherton Tablelands, Skybury Coffee Plantation and Wetherby Station to the finish in Port Douglas are very diverse. The competitors from 17 countries are in for a treat: jungle, single trails, river crossings, steep climbs and fast descents, old mining towns in the Outback, huge farms and the fertile Tablelands await them.
Say Crocodile! Photo: Regina Stanger
This year we are excited to present a high-profile participant line-up including some of the best marathon and endurance racers in the world, who will fight for the podium spots in a gripping race until the final day:
– Greg Saw from Australia: the Crocodile Trophy Champion from 2014 will be at the start to defend his title.
– Brendan Johnston: the Australian Marathon National Champion will challenge the international contenders on his home ground.
– Urs Huber from Switzerland: one of the most successful endurance mountain bikers in the world a double Crocodile Trophy Champion
– Ondrej Foitek: this Czech racer has claimed the Crocodile Trophy victory twice as well.
– Soren Nissen from Denmark is regarded as the dark horse among the elite field.
– Nicholas Pettinà, the Italian Marathon National Champion – and recent victor in the Mongolia Bike Challeng
– David Rosa: the Portugese rider was unlucky last year when he did not finish the Crocodile Trophy due to an injury; this year he has his eyes on the overall win.
– Rotem Ishay: this nine-time National Champion from Israel will have some aces up his sleeves.
But the list does continue to be pretty deep with Ryan Sherlock, Irish XCM champion attending – he’s already in Cairns to acclimatise to the heat and humidity. And Peter LIster has put a crack team together from Mackay, and there’s still plenty of quick Cairns locals who won’t be settling in for just a training tour.
So who can win? Greg Saw would be hard to bet against. He has a huge amount of experience, and local backing as he grew up in Atherton – he also has moved back for a few months. But Urs Huber has riddent o another level since his last appearance in 2011. The race has changed a lot since then, but it hasn’t changed in a way that would be a detriment to the Swiss Bull’s chances. If Huber stays with the front in the first stage at Smithfield, chances are he could gain a good gap on Stage 2 to Lake Tinaroo, and then seek to defend or extend that for the following week.
Of course, that game plan would work for any strong climber. But Huber is Swiss. He’s won races like the Grand Raid, and has recently won two marathons in Switzerland. He’s in excellent shape.
Foitek knows how to win the Croc, but he did win previous version, with much longer days. He’s still a very experienced mountain biker, but the lack of 5+ hour days might not give him the chance to wear his opponents down, unlike in an event like Iron Bike.
Ondrej Fojtik – relishing the cold at Salzkammergut. Can he deal with the heat again too?
Soren Nissen could well be a dark horse – but rumour has it he’s also nursing injury.
Nicholas Pettina schooled many at the 2015 Mongolia Bike Challenge, and will have great form for the Croc. Can he manage the heat and humidity? There’s a very good chance he could ride away on the climb over the ranges on Stage 2, but it may be a strong group of Saw, Huber and Pettina.
Nicholas Pettiná. Photo: Paolo Martelli
David Rosa took a commanding stage win on Stage 3 of the 2014 Crocodile Trophy, flowing his way through the Atherton bike park. The next day he took a serious blow to the shoulder in rough farm trails, and his race was over. But, he wasn’t in a great GC position before his stage win, perhaps the second stage is too long or hard for the XCO specialist? Further stage racing this year might change that, and he’s a good chance for the overall.
And Brendan Johnston, the Australian XCM Champ? Well it’s not often our best XCM racers go up against the world’s best marathon racers. And especially not on home soil – even if it is about 4000km from their own home town. This will be a true test for Johnston, who chased the World Cup and UCI points through the second half of the season. That pitted him against XCO racers, whereas the Croc will put him against some established names from the highest level of XCM racing. Could he win? I’d say – yes. It would be a stunning victory, and hard-fought, but he could do it.
Brendan Johnston finishes solo.
We will have to wait for the race to start to see how it pans out.