Final stage winner Josek Benetseder celebrates.

An excited crowd of spectators welcomed the 2012 Crocodile Trophy winner Ivan Rybarik (CZE) on Grassy Hill in Cooktown on Sunday. Josef Benetseder took the stage win for Austria ahead of Mike Mulkens (BEL) and the Australian Luke Haines. Ondrej Fojtik claims the overall second place and Wolfgang Krenn third.

Josef Benetseder was the fastest rider of the day and claimed his first Crocodile Trophy stage win. “Last year I got second three times, so I came back to win a stage,” said the beaming Austrian road racer today. “It was much harder this year and those technical mountain bike stages were challenging, but today I knew it was a stage for me.”

The field had been started in staggered starts with the leaders in the GC riding out of Laura onto the wide and undulating gravel roads last. That way most of the riders arrived together on Grassy Hill and celebrated their achievements of the past nine days. Mike Mulkens from Belgium was second today and the Australian Luke Haines third.

Czech rider dominates field

The top three: Fojtik, Rybarik and Krenn.

With an impressive performance and four stage wins, Ivan Rybarik is the 2012 Crocodile Trophy champion. He arrived with the second and third-placed riders and after congratulating Ondrej Fojtik (CZE) and Wolfgang Krenn said, “I just had such a good time racing the Crocodile Trophy this year.”

He added that he wanted to thank his wife Yana and daughter Elena who had supported him in his preparation for the race and his Rubena Rocky Trail Racing Team. “My business partner Ondrej [Slezak] and his Hana were great and looked after me these past weeks and motivated me each day. We just had such a great time, in our team camp the atmosphere was always positive, we were chatting and talking about biking all the time. It was really the best environment for me to do well this year.”

Race organiser Gerhard Schönbacher was content on Grassy Hill also, “This year we implemented a lot of new elements in the Crocodile Trophy. More mountain biking tracks, new stage destinations and even though the increased participant number meant a much greater logistical challenge, it definitely encourages us to keep improving our event.” The hardest longest, hottest and most adventurous mountain bike stage race will be back in Tropical Far North Queensland in 2013 from 19 – 26 October.

Results

Elite Men overall

1. Ivan Rybarik (CZE), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing CZE, 34:08:59
2. Ondrej Fojtik (CZE), +17:55
3. Wolfgang Krenn (AUT), +49:18
4. Cory Wallace (CAN), 01:11:06
5. Ondrej Slezak (CZE), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing CZE, 01:28:25

Women overall

1. Kate Major (AUS), 42:23:17
2. Alice Pirard (BEL), O2 Bikers – WMTB.be – Schwalbe, 45:38:29
3. Tinneke Van de Voorde (BEL), 53:13:44
4. Annie van der Linde (NED), 59:24:33
5. Jade Forsyth (AUS), 60:09:23

M1 Winner

1. Werner van der Merwe (UK), Subaru-MarathonMTB.com, 35:15:54

M2 Winner

1. Marc Baechli (SUI), 37:14;45

M3 Winner

1. Milan Spolc (CZE), 37:28:15

Adventure Team category elite winners

1. Mark Griffin / Aaron Lakeman (AUS), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing, 37:48:50 / 37:50:34

Adventure Team category M1 winners

1. Pierre Paligot / Dirk Abeloos (BEL), Croco RR Team Habay, 57:53:25 / 57:53:38

Team of Three category winners

Rubena Rocky Trail Racing, Michal Kafka / Ivan Rybarik / Ondrej Slezak (CZE)

Ivan Rybarik

Ivan Rybarik was the fastest Crocodile Trophy racer across the finish line at Laura on Saturday after an impressive ride and solo finish. Rybarik secured his lead by more than five minutes over second in the elite GC, fellow Czech rider Ondrej Fojtik. Fojtik finished third today, only seconds behind Mike Mulkens (BEL).

The first 54 km to the Little Laura River crossing were deemed too rough for 4WD cars so the race quad crew was again leading and following the riders. The course followed an old gold mining trail that had been built in 1873 during the gold rush era in the Palmer river region.

Friday’s stage winner Mike Mulkens (BEL) attacked right away but was soon caught by Ivan Rybarik who said that he didn’t want to risk anything and his goal for today was to secure his overall lead. “Today was an awesome stage, I loved those drop-offs and downhills!” an elated Rybarik said at Laura.

“I pushed really hard until the end; I put the hammer down all the way. I kept getting really hungry after the two and three hour marks, but was lucky to have enough food with me to keep going.” He was hoping that Sunday’s final stage would be a relaxed ride towards Cooktown and that his biggest competitor Ondrej Fojtik wouldn’t attack to hard to still challenge his title.

Ondrej Slezak

It wasn’t such a smooth race today for Mulkens who suffered yet another flat tire at the 10km mark just as he was racing well with Rybarik. “Ivan did hesitate and stopped for a few seconds but I understand that he couldn’t wait for me. It took me ages to fix the flat and I dropped back to at least 50th position,” said the Belgian rider who managed to catch back up with the main chase group.

“On those technical downhills I risked a lot today,” said Mulkens. “My legs felt strong and I thought it’s either going to be another flat or catching the lead groups.”

In an impressive chase Mulkens settled into the chasing group with Cory Wallace (CAN), Wolfgang Krenn (AUT) and Werner van der Merwe (UK). Just before the last feed zone and with 15 km to go they were six minutes behind the leader Rybarik and his solo chaser Ondrej Fojtik on whom he had 4:30 minutes at that point.

Fojtik said later, “Today was the most beautiful stage that I’ve ever experienced at a Crocodile Trophy. It was really difficult and technical, but really awesome and it suited me perfectly. Ivan was very strong again today and at the last feed zone I decided to preserve some energy for tomorrow, backed off and the chasing group caught me.”

In the strong headwind of the open fire roads towards the finish, they worked together well and in a sprint finish, Mulkens crossed the line just seconds ahead of Fojtik, about five minutes behind the stage winner Rybarik.

“Snakes will kill you, Ivan just hurts you”

Ondrej Fojtik

This is how the Canadian rider Cory Wallace concluded the stage. He said that in the morning his legs had felt heavy from his efforts on the previous two stages. “I still pushed hard from the start, because I wanted to keep Ondrej Slezak in my sight who has been trying to challenge my fourth position overall in the elite category.”

He added that Ivan Rybarik was racing in a class of himself and that he wished he’d had better legs in the morning. “When you stay with Ivan Rybarik, you get second,” he grinned.

“Today was a perfect track, I wish it would be like this every day. A few sections were really sandy and we tried going off into the woods, but you get sticks in your spokes and I’m scared of the snakes… so I stayed on the track and walked some of it.”

“The finish line is in Cooktown”

Like many other riders, Wolfgang Krenn hesitated to look at the current standings and predict the final results. “Today I wanted to secure the third overall place and I think I managed that well. I didn’t want to risk anything in the technical downhill sections, Ivan’s racing a crazy pace, however, anything can happen at the Croc. There’s one more long stage ahead of us.”

Werner van der Merwe agreed. “Today you really needed to be switched on – it was pure mountain biking. I did come down twice, but I still loved today, because the track was so interesting and a real mountain biker’s stage,” said the Subaru/Marathon-MTB team rider. The British M1 category leader, who would be placing fourth-fastest overall, added that he was hopeful for a successful finish at Cooktown. “It’s only over when the fat lady has sung, isn’t it? So hopefully tomorrow it’s not going to be too hot and the head wind into Cooktown won’t be as strong as promised.”

One of the unlucky fellows of the day was Ondrej Slezak who had suffered a flat tire and realised that he had forgotten his pump. Luckily, his Rubena Rocky Trail team mate Mark Griffin caught up to him: “I waited for a few minutes and Mark helped me and gave me some spare parts, however, I still lost more than 10 minutes.”

Mark’s adventure category team rider Aaron Lakeman suffered a similar fate: “Three flat tires in a row today, I can’t believe it. It was a fun track, I much preferred it to just sitting on a fire road, but it takes its toll on the equipment.”

“Today was a little bit of everything”

Kate Major, leading female at the Crocodile Trophy, enjoyed today’s technical challenges and rode carefully. “I know I have a good lead, but at the end of the day, it’s about arriving in Cooktown and finishing the race,” Kate said and added that tomorrow’s stage wasn’t just a formality. She had wanted a good tour through the Outback and enjoyed meeting so many people from so many countries around the world. “Never say never, I might do it again. For now I’ll just try to ride a good pace into Cooktown tomorrow.”

After four years and 36 stages at the Crocodile Trophy, Mike Mulkens (BEL) achieved his goal and won his first stage today. In temperatures reaching more than 45 degrees at Maytown, Cory Wallace (CAN) came in close second and Josef Benetseder (AUT) claimed third.

Mike Mulkens looking a bit less serious after winning, and Michiel Van Aelbroeck

With two stages to go, the overall classifications of both men and women’s elite are still unchallenged with the leads held by the Czech Ivan Rybarik and the Australian Kate Major, respectively.

Happy, emotional, excited, content – these and many more emotions were written across Mike Mulkens’ face when he jumped off his bike at Maytown with his arms shooting into the air in victory. Racing at the Crocodile Trophy for the fourth time, it had been the Belgian amateur cyclist’s goal and dream to win a stage.

“Today, everything was perfect for me. Good legs, an early attack that worked, awesome riding mates that raced really well and for the first time in a Crocodile Trophy stage I kept telling myself to stay calm and patient and it worked. I can’t believe it – I’m so happy!” said a beaming Mulkens at the finish.

His 2012 race had started with bad luck with Mike suffering flat tires, a broken seat and fatigue on the technical and hot mountain bike stages. However, despite the extreme temperatures today he prevailed.

The early breakaway.

The morning had started pleasantly cool at less than 15 degrees overnight and Mike Mulkens had attacked right away. Fellow Belgians Michiel Van Aelbroeck and Christof Marien as well as Cory Wallace decided to go as well and with three more Austrians – Benetseder, Hrinkow and Konrad – they formed the breakaway group.

In the meantime the peloton kept riding at a steady pace and most leaders’ jerseys were in it. It had taken them a long time to increase the gap to two minutes said Mike Mulkens after a refreshing swim in the nearby billabong.

Marien fell back to the peloton on the steep climbs of the wide gravel roads and the lead group kept increasing their pace.

Sprint finish into the Maytown Croc camp

From the second feeding station, Mulkens said, he knew he had to give it all. “On the last 30 km I really pushed hard and attacked. Cory [Wallace] stayed on my wheel and at a sandy and technical section just 5 km before the finish, we were able to leave the Austrians and Van Aelbroeck behind and then I just smashed it.”

After more than three hours of racing, he said he was looking forward to “beer, chips and a party”.

“I am really happy for Mike, he deserves this win,” said second place getter Cory Wallace. “Had it been an uphill finish, maybe I would have had an advantage. But it was slightly downhill and Mike had the better line on the finish straight and was the stronger sprinter.”

The Austrian Josef Benetseder finished in third in 3:11.24, followed by Michiel Van Aelbroeck (BEL) and Patrick Konrad (AUT).

Preserving energy for second-last stage into Laura

The plan among riders in the peloton had been to take it easy ahead of tomorrow’s rough stage into Laura and to preserve as much energy as possible, said race leader Wolfgang Krenn.

Points leader Ondrej Fojtik

Finishing in 8th place his GC position won’t be challenged and he was satisfied with his result and excited about Mulken’s win. “We had a chat in the bunch and a good ride together. The Crocodile Trophy is a race where you really get to know your fellow riders. That’s why I’m really happy for Mike today – we rode a lot together during last year’s race and he had asked me earlier this week how a stage win felt. We all knew how much he wanted a stage win. Now he can experience it himself and he deserves it,” Krenn said.

It almost seems today’s stage has closed a chapter in the Crocodile Trophy’s race history with Mike Mulken’s emotional win. Werner van der Merwe, M1 race leader said today that he himself had a comfortable gap on his competitors, but that he won’t relax just yet.

“At such an intense and long race, anything can happen. Look at Mike Mulkens – earlier this week he had flat tires and even a broken seat and was riding right at the back of the bunch. Today he wins a stage – you do need endurance, good legs, but also a bit of luck.”

Van der Merwe added that he still couldn’t believe that he was leading the M1 classification. “I came here for the adventure. I love riding my bike, because it takes my mind off the sometimes monotonous work I do. So really, I’m on a holiday here – my parents and my wife support me on this journey and what more could I ask for?”

Strong women’s field impresses and has fun

Kate Major the successful tri- and endurance athlete is comfortably leading the general women’s classification at the 2012 Crocodile Trophy. Today she said that she felt a bit of fatigue setting in but that she was still looking forward to the last two stages. “On the rides into Laura and Cooktown I’ll see more places that I haven’t been to and I’m always up for an adventure!” she said.

Today, of the six women at the start, three started an hour before the entire Croc field. Not challenging the top three positions of Kate Major, Alice Pirard (BEL) and Tinneke Van de Voorde (BEL), they got their own gun shot-start at 7am and a head start in the cool of the morning.

While Annie van der Linde, the 55-year old Dutch rider pushed ahead, the Australian Jade Forsyth and Kirsten De Keyser (BEL) rode together all the way to the finish. “I was happy about the early start because it meant that after some time the top riders started to overtake us and it was so exciting to see at what high speeds they race”, said Kirsten.

“They were so encouraging, saying ‘Come on you’re doing great’ and some even slapped my bum and pushed me along a bit – but I didn’t mind, it was actually really motivating and you feel part of the race.”

It had been nice to talk about “girl stuff”, she said. “You know, about sore bums and what else hurts by now, but also about our personal life and we really got to know each other.”

Kirsten said that on most of the previous days she had been riding at the back of the bunches and would probably get the “wooden spoon trophy” in the end, but that she also experienced some fun moments.

“The depot crew is always good value – the other day, as they had packed up and started overtaking me towards the finish, they actually drove level with me and a girl opened the window presenting me with a plate full of extra muesli bars and fruit. And at the depots they treat me like a queen, filling my water bottles, massaging my legs or waving paper at me for a breeze,” she said with a big smile.

Jade Forsyth from Australia agreed that it had been fun to share a day out at the Crocodile Trophy with a fellow female rider. “We talked about life and our hobbies and it was awesome to see the fast boys go past and to be able to cheer them on,” said the insurance broker.

Of the remaining two stages she added that tomorrow’s stage into Laura she expected a lot of rough and rocky sections, but as a passionate mountain biker she felt confident. “The last day is going to be really long. Straight main roads and a head wind at the end, but I hope, maybe we’ll find some gentlemen who will ride with us and give us some rest in their slipstream for the final kilometres of this race.”

Riding towards civilisation again, the riders will arrive at Laura tomorrow after 87 km and 1300 m of elevation.

Stage 6, Mt Mulligan – Maitland Downs, 127 km, 2600m

Ondrej Fojtik crosses the finish line.

Another stage win boomerang for the Czech Republic – Ondrej Fojtik claimed his second stage win ahead of Ivan Rybarik (CZE) and Cory Wallace (CAN) after a gruelling day. In the general classification the two Czech riders still dominate the field, with Rybarik leading ahead of Fojtik and Austrian Wolfgang Krenn able to increase his gap to fourth Werner van der Merwe (UK) and Ondrej Slezak (CZE) who still is in fifth place. The Australian Kate Major is still leading the women’s classification and Steven Rankine from Mossman near Cairns took over the Australian leader’s jersey.

Under cloudy skies the sixth stage of the 2012 Crocodile Trophy started with an immediate attack by M1 racer Christof Marien (BEL). The first 60 km of the race were on undulating gravel roads and with the Austro-Australian duo Dominick Hrinkow and Justin Morris trying to chase Marien down, the peloton with most of the leaders’ jerseys was cruising along. The Rubena Rocky Trail Racing team with Ivan Rybarik, Ondrej Slezak and Michal Kafka was controlling the pace of the main peloton, leading the group towards the climb that was going to take them up more than 450 m of elevation in only about 20 km.

The peloton aka the Croc Train.

“The first 60km were not so difficult,” said beaming stage winner Fojtik at the finish. “We rode in the group and there were some attacks from riders, but we were not worried. However, the second part of the stage caught all of us by surprise – it was considerably more difficult than what the elevation profile in the road book had promised.”

He had noticed that Ivan Rybarik started to suffer already after the first feed zone. “I tried to stay consistent throughout the day and I think Ivan went too hard in the beginning of the race and then wasted valuable energy coming into the first few climbs and his energy was dropping.”

From the mid-stage point after the second feeding zone, Rybarik had taken initiative and attacked the hill furiously. Fojtik didn’t stay far behind, but as they caught the breakaway riders, the entire chasing peloton exploded around them, as today’s third, Cory Wallace (CAN) describes it: “That was the hardest stage this year so far. Long, hot, dry, sandy and steep climbs that wouldn’t end. After the second depot we hit the first big climb and basically, the bunch blew into pieces. I wasn’t feeling so good at the start, but started to bounce back by just riding a consistent pace on the climbs. I tried not to use all my energy and made a mistake to let the two get away after the third depot. They raced off and had about a 30 second lead on me. I kept seeing them ahead of me for more than an hour!”

Rybarik ploughs through a river crossing at speed.

Fojtik added that he was particularly happy to claim today’s stage win Boomerang. “I am really happy about my victory. We saw today that Ivan is not superhuman and that he also suffers on such a tough stage. But to win after almost five hours in that heat and after such a difficult race with all those technical climbs, river crossings and rocky descents, makes me really proud.”

More than half way and getting tired

“I think all riders are a little bit tired and slowly the stages are taking their toll. I think this year is much tougher – the stages seem shorter on paper, but they really challenge your riding skills and endurance,” said today’s fifth, the Austrian Wolfgang Krenn. He had been riding together with M1 race leader Werner van der Merwe (UK) for most of the day, who crossed the finish line only seconds ahead of him. Everyone needed to really dig deep now and look after themselves and their equipment to get through the next three days of racing, Krenn added.

Keeping the Croc train running

Ivan Rybarik’s best game face.

Throughout the nine race days, the Croc riders are accompanied by almost 100 staff, including two bike mechanics, two doctors and six physiotherapists.

“You do notice that people are starting to fatigue now,” said Dr. Andreas Nemeth. “The most common injuries we see are bruises, scratches, sore bottoms, but we are also prepared for serious incidents. We are in contact with all major hospitals and ambulance services.”

He added that either of them travelled with the lead and finish vehicles and that way they follow the entire race track. “We are on call 24/7, basically. Riders come to us in the morning to get fresh bandages, we look after them during the race and then of course as they come into the camp, where we have set up our tent that functions as a small clinic,” he said.

Head physiotherapist Maria Schöffmann said that sometimes they also had to provide some moral support to riders. “By now riders seem to get really tired and their bodies are suffering. We massage riders and can also do basic osteopathic adjustments, stretching and tape treatments, but sometimes a friendly smile and listening to their day’s adventure makes the feel better after a long stage in the saddle,” she said.

Bike doctors on call

Micha Salden can’t remember how often he has been a bike mechanic at the Crocodile Trophy, only that sometimes only improvising is what keeps a bike rolling.

“I am a bike mechanic by trade and with all those modern bikes these days you really need to know what you are doing,” he said. The most common problems are faults with gear shifting and buckled wheels. His ‘second-in-command’ this year, Niels adds that the stage into Mt Mulligan had been the toughest on equipment so far. “The riders experienced heavy rain in the morning, crossed through knee-deep rivers, rode across mud and sand, that takes its toll.”

“I knew that the Australian Outback would be tough and wasn’t too surprised that the climbs today were never-ending,, agreed Kate Major, the Australian who is leading the women’s field after six stages. If she had seen any crocodiles on track yet? “No, and honestly, the only crocodile I want to see is the one that doesn’t move on my trophy in Cooktown.”

Tomorrow’s stage seven heads to Maytown on 120 km with 1400m elevation. The former main settlement on the Palmer River goldfields in Far North Queensland is the venue for the best views of a Solar Eclipse in November this year.

For full results see the Crocodile Trophy website.

The stage 6 podium

Rybarik Krenn passes Hrinkow as he deals with a mechanical.

“The track to Mutchilba is very rough.” That was the first sentence of today’s rider briefing. During the last rain season the direct road between Irvinebank and Mutchilba had been heavily damaged and some sections have been impassable for vehicles ever since. So this morning the Croc riders were sent off into the wilderness with a leading quad bike that accompanied them throughout the first part of today’s stage. A large crowd of supporters, a police escort and the official lead and media vehicles awaited them at Mutchilba and from then on the mid-section of the stage meant a few kilometres to recover on wide open roads.

“It was business as usual this morning,” said stage winner Wolfgang Krenn at the finish at Mt Mulligan. “Ivan Rybarik attacked right away and I knew I had to stay with him. Soon he saw that I was able to keep up and when three more riders caught up to us on the open roads, we all worked together really well.”

It had been Ondrej Fojtik (CZE), Cory Wallace (CAN) and yesterday’s second place getter, Michiel Van Aelbroeck who then entered the last 25 km rolling hill section with them, forming the break away group which achieved a significant lead on the chasers.

Krenn claims win on finish straight

Wallace, Fojtik and Van Aelbroeck splash through a river crossing

Before, Ivan Rybarik and Ondrej Fojtik had tried to push away on the rough road through Pinnacle Station, but both admitted that at the last 50m sprint towards the Crocodile Trophy finish arch, Krenn was the stronger rider and deserved the stage win.

Michiel van Albroeck from Belgium displayed again a solid performance today, riding and pulling his weight in the lead group. He said that he was a bit disappointed that he couldn’t finish in first today. “When you’re in such a small lead group, each rider has the chance to take out the win. The Czech riders were very strong today and they certainly don’t hand out any presents. But I’m happy with my second and fourth place for now and there’s still four days to go”, he said.

Cory Wallace finished fifth and said that he was really enjoying the technical sections. “In the beginning, I was actually in the lead for a while – I loved those technical descents, I’m good at that. But Ivan soon got me, attacked and then Wolfgang went as well. It was good that I could catch them again with the other two riders.”

The Canadian is an experienced stage racer and said that he didn’t mind coming to the Crocodile Trophy by himself. “You have enough time in the afternoon to relax, recover and look after yourself. However, out on track a team mate would come in real handy.”

And of the race tactics he said with a cheeky grin, “The guys were talking in German and Czech today and I had no idea what they were up to – but hey, I held on.”

Alice Pirard gets first boomerang for the family

Alice Pirard is still smiling.

The Belgian cross-country amateur champion Alice Pirard was the fastest female rider across the finish line today. The girlfriend of Michiel Van Aelbroeck was welcomed at the finish line by their family who are travelling with the sporty couple to support them at the Crocodile Trophy.

“I am just so happy to win the boomerang and not only because I got one before Michiel did,” said the 24-year old at the finish. Of her race she said that she really won the stage on the last 50 km and had a bit of luck also, being able to ride with a strong peloton.

That included her fellow Belgians Mike Mulkens and Christof Marien and the Austrian Dominick Hrinkow. The trio had tried a break right at the start, but were struck with flat tires one by one and overtaken by the Krenn-Rybarik train.

“I was able to get some rest from the headwind in between stints at the front and was able to overtake Kate Major because I still had enough water and didn’t have to stop at the last depot. But tomorrow I think my legs are going to be heavy.”

The plan for the rest of the week was to hang on to second place overall in the female classification and to enjoy the time in Australia with her family.

Behind the scenes in the Croc supporter camp

As Alice Pirard came across the finish, Charlotte van Aelbroeck and her parents were cheering the loudest today at the finish line.

“We try to see them at least once a day out on the track at a feeding zone to encourage them and cheer them on”, said Aelbroeck team chef Charlotte.

“I’m responsible for driving the car and it’s great because we can see so much of this beautiful country while travelling from one stage camp to the next.

“We’ve arrived a week before the event and plan a holiday after the event, but to see Alice and Michiel in action and all those other riders, who give everything every day, is really special. And they really appreciate it when you clap and cheer!”

The Crocodile Trophy is a massive logistical undertaking with 11 trucks and 15 4WD cars transporting staff, luggage and supplies.

While the more than 120 riders brought 45 supporters who travel in 15 4WD support cars, the organisational team includes 85 crew, including organisers, race director, tent builders, mechanics, physiotherapists and two doctors, a paramedic, four media crew, quad riders and most importantly twelve kitchen staff headed up by the cook, Thorsten. “We go through about 60 kg of raw pasta, 20 litres of milk and 25 dozen eggs every day”, said the busy head chef.

The stage 5 podium

Hana Kosikova, mother of eight

One of the busiest supporters is Hana Kosikova, partner of Ondrej Slezak, cook, massage therapist, motivator and angel of the Rubena Rocky Trail racing teams. Eight riders race under her wings, including Ivan Rybaric, the current race leader.

Hana said that after five days, she and her two helpers who look after all the equipment and help with building up the team’s camp every day,were really exhausted.

“I get up at 5.15am, make the boys their breakfast so that they have a lot of energy for their race. They asked me to come and cook for them, because I know how to prepare their favourite foods. Then I pack up all the stuff and go to the next stop, cook lunch, massage them, clean the dishes, cook dinner, go to sleep and wake up again at 5.15am.”, says the massage therapist, who lives in Sydney with Slezak.

“I know Ondrej and Michal, who is my brother in law, really well. Ivan has been my friend for years, so I can see in their faces what they need and every day I get to know the other team riders from Australia and Austria better.”

About the days which sometimes get long she added, “You get tired, but I love it, because I can see that the boys are doing well and I hope that it’s also a little bit because of me.”

Tomorrow, stage six of the 18th Crocodile Trophy and will take the entire event circus from Mt Mulligan to Maitland Downs via 127km and 2600m of elevation. The race book promises “breathtaking scenery”.

Ivan Rybarik wins stage four of the Crocodile Trophy in Australia

The Rubena Rocky Trail Racing rider won the 106km stage in Irvinebank, Australia, ahead of Michiel Van Aelbroeck (O2 Bikers-WMTB.be-Schwalbe) and Ondrej Fojtik (X-sports.cz).

Rybarik now leads the overall classification by more than 15 minutes from Fojtik, while Wolfgang Krenn (Zwillingscraft Steven/Sc Knauf Liezen) is third, nearly 40 minutes adrift.

“I didn’t want to take any risks today and kept pushing hard,” said Rybarik. “I still feel very strong and that I have some reserves left for the coming stages.”

Van Aelbroeck, second on the stage, added: “I came to this race with no particular interest in the general classification, but I wanted to do really well in at least one stage. So today, I tried to attack early on and had Mike Mulkens with me, but Rybarik doesn’t hand out any presents – his counter-attack came fast and we didn’t get away.

“As long as Rybarik rides that strong, all we can do is watch, so I’m actually quite happy with my second placing today.”

The nine-stage race is dubbed the “world’s longest, hardest and most adventurous mountain bike stage race” by its organisers.

Rybaric won the opening stage to become the first rider to wear this year’s leader’s jersey, before victory on stage two saw Fojtik wrestle the lead from his compatriot.

But Rybaric bounced back with victory on stage three to assume control of the race once again. Here’s how each stage unfolded.

Ivan Rybaric won the opening stage

Stage one

The 30km opening stage took place over five laps of a six kilometre circuit in Smithfield, previously used as a venue for the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.

Ivan Rybaric, who won two stages in the 2008 edition of the race, took the lead early on and continued to increase his advantage over the five laps, crossing the finish line after 1:31:21 hours.

Mike Mulkens, fourth overall last year, finished second, 1:48 minutes behind Rybaric, while 24-hour solo world champion Jason English came third, 2:09 minutes back.

“I knew I had to attack early and I kept pushing hard and attacking as soon as I felt them coming closer,” said Rybaric. “It’s only day one and I am happy about my win, but I want to stay on the ground. There are another long eight days to go.”

Stage two

Ondrej Fojtik won stage two to take the overall lead from Ivan Rybarik, crossing the line  7:58 minutes ahead of his compatriot, who finished second on the stage. Home hope Jason English was forced to abandon the race in the closing kilometres after fracturing his collarbone.

The 92km stage from Cairns to Lake Tinaroo packed in 2,500m of climbing and Rybarik,  Fojtik and Wolfgang Krenn attacked on the rough gravel roads of Dinden National Park.

“My friend Ivan Rybarik attacked straight after the dam crossing and Krenn and I stayed with him until the first depot when Ivan suffered a flat tire,” said Fojtik.

Ondrej Fojtik took the overall lead after victory on stage two

Rybarik suffered a second puncture which saw him fall further back while, up front, Fojtik and Krenn held a two minute lead over English and Cory Wallace.

Fojtik then made his move after the second feed zone, while Krenn fell back to form a three-strong chasing group with English and Wallace.

Fojtik went on to claim the stage win and move into the leader’s jersey, while Rybaric finished second, Wallace third and Krenn fourth.

Stage three

Ivan Rybarik and Ondrej Fojtik continued to dominate this year’s race on stage three, finishing first and second respectively – with Rybarik stealing the leader’s jersey back from his fellow Czech rider.

“This was one of the hardest days in my life”, said Rybarik after the 111km stage from Lake Tinaroo to Irvinebank. “My plan had been to get back the leader’s jersey – but it wasn’t easy.”

Mike Mulkens and Josef Benetseder tried to break away early on the stage but Rybarik and Fojtik led a chasing group which included Dominick Hrinkow, Wolfgang Krenn and Cory Wallace to catch the duo.

Rybarik and Fojtik then injected their own burst of pace and dropped the group, with Rybarik then gaining a minute over  Fojtik on the long descent after the first feed zone.

Ivan Rybarik dominated stage three to move back into the leader’s jersey

Rybarik continued to accelerate away from Fojtik and eventually crossed the line nearly ten minutes ahead of his friend.

“We are really good friends and ride together a lot back home in the Czech Republic, but this is racing after all and we need to be competitive”, said Rybarik at the finish.

“I noticed Ondrej wasn’t riding at a 100 per cent today, so I grabbed my chance and thought ‘This is it, maybe I can get the jersey back’ and I just tried it. I am happy that I could do it, but you never know, there are still six days to go.”

Wolfgang Krenn, who finished second in 2011, will return to make an assault on the title

Wolfgang Krenn will return to make an assault on the Crocodile Trophy title after finishing second overall in 2011.

The Austrian is one of 170 riders set to start the nine-stage race but Jeroen Boelen will not defend the title won last year.

For the first time, two public races will also take place over the first two stages of the course as part of the Crocodile Trophy MTB Festival hosted by the local Cairns Mountain Bike Club.

The World Cup track in Smithfield, Cairns, will be included in the race for the first time, with riders completing five laps on the 30km opening stage, before the 92km second stage to Lake Tinaroo.

The race heads deep into the Australian Outback

The remaining seven stages will generally be shorter than previous editions but with considerably more off-road sections. Riders will race for almost 1,000 km over the course of the Crocodile Trophy, with the final stage the longest at 140km.

Each night camp will be set up in mining towns and at cattle stations in some of the most remote parts of the Australian Outback. The race track takes riders over corrugated fire trails, through river crossings, down technical descents and through the forbidding landscape of rocky service roads without an inch of shade.

Riders will be confronted with technical terrain in blistering temperatures

Many sections of the infamous Bicentennial National Trail will feature this year and, after a ten year break, the legendary stage through the Quinkan Aboriginal Reserve from Maytown to Laura will be revived.

We’ll bring you reports from each stage, as well as photo galleries from the epic Australian Outback, here on Bikemagic.

Boelen, Huber, Blewitt, and Krenn lead last year’s Croc Trophy.

The opening stage will be open to the public, as will the following day’s 92km marathon from Cairns to Lake Tinaroo on the Atherton Tablelands.

As well as the biggest total field, this year’s Croc Trophy sees the biggest ever contingent of Australian riders and the biggest ever female field.

The local group is headed by 24 hour solo world champion Jason English and Morris, the best Elite Australian finisher at the Crocodile Trophy 2011.

Technical trails are a challenge in the heat and dust of the Outback.

Among the international field are last year’s top three with winner Jeroen Boelen (Netherlands), Wolfgang Krenn (Austria) and Josef Benedseder (Austria). Canadian marathon racer and Mongolia Bike Challenge winner Cory Wallace will also be at the start line alongside Spaniard and Red Bull racer Josef Ajram.

Seven women have signed up for this year’s Crocodile Trophy, including Australian triathlete and Ironman racer Kate Major.

After the Smithfield stage, the following eight days will challenge the technical skills of participants more than ever before. Generally, the stages will be shorter than in previous years, but where previous Croc Trophies have been characterised by dirt road epics, this year the stages will include considerably more mountain bike tracks. Overall, the participants will ride for almost 1000km with the longest stage covering 136km.

A very long way from anywhere on the Croc Trophy.

The sheer logistics of racing across the Outback make the Crocodile Trophy as much an adventure as it is a race. Each night camp will be set up in mining towns and at cattle stations in some of the most remote parts of Australia.

Over the nine stages racers will ride over corrugated fire trails, through river crossings, down technical descents and through the forbidding landscape of rocky service roads without an inch of shade. And then there is the scenery – dark red sand, and vegetation ranging from barren bush to lush rainforest.

The Outback will continue to be centre-stage in 2012 with camps at the cattle stations of Mt. Mulligan, Mitchell and Palmer River. The seventh stage will take the riders to Maytown. Once a big gold mining centre, this Outback town will also be the focus of world-wide attention three weeks after the Crocodile Trophy makes its stop there this year. Maytown has been identified as the best place to watch the solar eclipse on November 14 with more than 10,000 expected spectators.

Many sections of Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail will also be part of this year’s Croc Trophy. After a ten year break the legendary stage through the Quinkan Aboriginal Reserve from Maytown to Laura is back in this year’s Croc Trophy.

Tough dirt roads will still be a feature of the 2012 Croc Trophy, but there will be more trails in this year’s race.

There will be a two-person ‘Croc Adventure’ team category will for the first time this year. Team .participants will ride together and cross the finish line each day not more than two minutes apart.

The 18th Crocodile Trophy will have a more international field than ever. As well as numerous Europeans and Australians, riders from countries like South Korea, Mexico, the US and South Africa have signed up.

A crowd of 300 athletes, supporters and organisational crew will arrive at the finish line on Grassy Hill in Cooktown on October 28. After nine days in the Outback, Captain Cook’s landing site will once again be the riders’ final destination and one of the most rewarding highlights of the Crocodile Trophy 2012.

Destination: Cooktown. The green of the coast is a welcome sight after nine days of racing.