Photos © John Flynn – Crocodile Trophy

Stage 6

The Czech Republic made it a six-pack of stage victories at Australia’s Crocodile Trophy as VIG+ Racing’s Kejval Lubos delivered on the promise he showed during stage 5 at Chillagoe.

This time there was no blowing up at the death as Lubos and breakaway partner Tomas Kozak made it another ‘Czech-one-two’ when the race reached its annual stop-over at Mount Mulgrave Station, a cattle grazing property almost as large as some European principalities.

The pancake flat parcours along the dusty gravel roads of outback Tropical North Queensland perfectly suited the Czech strongman, who had always been singled out for a shot at this stage. In years past, this, the flattest stage of the Crocodile Trophy has been won by big-gear grinders.

“Yes, today I am very happy that everything went to plan,” Lubos said. “Yesterday I was supposed to be the winner, but twenty kilometres from the finish I had a problem. Today I try again and I am the winner, it’s great.”

Stage 7

It may have come by way of a gift from the Czech Republic, but whatever the case, consistent effort was rewarded again today at the Crocodile Trophy as Belgium’s national marathon mountain bike champion Nic Vermeulen claimed victory in the race’s signature 149km stage from Mount Mulgrave to Laura, the spiritual home of the Quinkans.

Vermeulen, who has toiled long and hard against the Czech juggernaut VIG+ Racing over the past seven days, was in an impossible position once again, outnumbered 4-1 by the Czechs in the final kilometres of today’s stage.

The gutsy Belgian from Team Lingier, who has earned respect all-round at this race, found himself in the “survivors” group, not a breakaway as such, containing race leader Ondrej Fojtik and his team-mates Tomas Trunschka, Ivan Rybarik and Martin Horak.

In another display of sportsmanship, the Czechs decided to honour their opponent, opting not to attack Vermeulen in the final kilometres as the race headed into the Laura. Had they attacked, Vermeulen would have found himself faced with an almost unwinnable scenario.

“I think it was a gift from the Czechian team,” Vermeulen admitted at stage end. “The team are too strong for me, I can attack but they ride four against me, but I’m happy with the stage win. Thank you.”

Results after seven stages

Men

1. Ondrej Fojtik
2. Martin Horak
3. Tomas Trunschka
4. Nicolas Vermeulen
5. Craig Gordon
6. Ivan Rybarik
7. Kris Hertsens
8. Robert Novotny
9. Tomas Kozak
10. Robert Novotny

64. Philip Smith GBR

Women

1. Joanne Bennett
2. Karen Steurs
3. Naomi Hansen

Full results at www.crocodile-trophy.com.