MTB

Crocodile Trophy 2015: Racers from 17 Nations assemble in Tropical North Queensland

By Rocky Trail Media

One week to go until the 21st Crocodile Trophy starts in Cairns on 17th October. The Crocodile Trophy is Australia's and the World's oldest and most iconic mountain bike stage race. It is endorses by the International Cycling Federation (UCI) with the highest possible category "S1" and offers valuable points to participants towards their international ranking. It calls the holiday paradise that is tropical North Queensland home and its 700+km stage plan from Cairns to Port Douglas is unique - every day is different!  

From the rain forests into the Outback and back to the beach: during the nine days from Cairns, the Atherton Tablelands, Skybury Coffee Plantation and Wetherby Station to Port Douglas 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.


Brendan Johnston, the Australian National Marathon Champion is challenging an international elite rider field on home ground. Photo © Russell Baker

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
• 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.

Greg Saw who just moved back to his home town of Atherton from Norway, will be at the start this year to defend his 2014 title. Photo © Crocodile Trophy

Apart from ringing names from the mountain bike athletic scene, at the start of the 21st Crocodile Trophy there will also be government and some interesting industry representatives, including:

• The Hon. Paul de Jersey, Governor of Queensland will attend the official race start at Smithfield MTB Park on 17 October.
• Mr Craig Crawford MP, Member for Barron River, will join us at the race start in Smithfield on 17 October
• Koenraad Vanschoren from Belgium from BEMC, which is one of the biggest mountain bike stage races in Europe, will stay in Australia for four weeks with his family and will participate in the race.
• Joko Vogel, the organiser of the Swiss Epic event will join the event for the last three stages
• For the first time we will have a Para-Olympian at the start – Arnout Matthys from Belgium will participate in the race.

Race start in Cairns. Photo © Crocodile Trophy

We expect over 100 cyclists from all over the world and Australia, for many this race is the challenge of a lifetime and for everyone it is an experience that they will never forget.


Website www.crocodile-trophy.com