Crocodile Trophy - NE

Australia, October 21-November 2, 2003

Main Next Stage

The Jacob's Creek - Shimano Dream Team Diaries

Stage One: Mareeba - Mt Mulligan, 95 km

By Christi Anderson

Anderson, Elli, Olle, Aas and Meorman rolled up to the start of the 2003 Crocodile Trophy with a few nerves and lots of ambitions. The team tactic was to follow everything and observe the competition's form.

Everything was going well, Elli had his eye on Bettin & Stauder, Anderson marking Viergever and the other three riding within themselves… at least that is how it was 15 km into the 95 km stage. Things were going so well that when Anderson's wife passed the group of chasers containing Anderson at 30 km he yelled to her, "Darling, did you lock the hubs?" Ok, he was doing fine.

When Alberto Elli came to the first feed station, he was laughing and asking for a third water bottle. He was third at that point and looked ready to attack. Later Elli remarked after loosing 26 mins on the lead, "I am old now. I am like a diesel!" Still laughing. At the camp site he was hunting for wild life. He found a frog in the toilet and a dingo in the back of the team ute.

Aas, Olle and Moerman were all looking comfortable early on. Moerman mentioned something about this not being a holiday for him, but there was no real signs of suffering yet.

The team strength changed a bit by the second feed station at 78 km and registering 43 degrees centigrade. The Jacob's Creek - Shimano Dream Team was melting! With 20 kilometres to go, Olle and Moerman were riding together on an open wide road with bone rattling corrugations, Moerman commented, " When does the good road start?" Olle spoke through a clicking jaw, "This is it mate, enjoy it!"

Moerman was asking because he had read in the race manual that the last kilometres were on paved roads. He was simply looking forward to the break as he was out of water and pedalling in squares.

The stage finished at a homestead in the outback with a bare footed proprietor and ten mixed breed dogs running around. As the Dream Team brought their own beer in the form of seven cases of stubbies (glass bottles), the truck was dripping in the stuff.

At one point, the team mechanic looked into the back of the Ute and several cases were airborne, as was the team's 4x4. In the end, the Dream Team is down to three cases of stubbies.

Polar heart rate readings

Phil Anderson - Max 190 average 165
David Olle - Max 188 average 157
Alberto Elli - Max 188 average 157
Perry Moerman - No idea - Possibly very high
Oyvind Aas - Max 191 average 163