10th Crocodile Trophy - NE

Australia, October 16-31, 2004

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Stage 11 - October 29: Laura - Cooktown, 142 km

Third Stage Win For Hansen

Crocodile Trophy Shipwrecked in Cooktown

By John-Michael Flynn in Cooktown, Queensland Australia.

Adam Hansen crosses the finish line
Photo ©: Mark Watson

Only a major mishap stands between Australia's Adam Hansen and overall victory in the Crocodile Trophy Mountainbike Race, after the homegrown talent all but sealed honours in the General Classification by winning his third stage of mountainbiking's toughest tour today in Cooktown.

Just as the crew of Captain James Cook's ship Endeavour had done in the year 1770 when they became shipwrecked here, Hansen climbed to the peak of Cooktown's 'Grassy Hill' and peered out to sea to acknowledge his personal accomplishment as 'Master and Commander' of the event.

"It's a bit overwhelming," Hansen admitted while attending a post-race function with his team sponsors. "I should have enough lead now to relax a little on the final stage, not relax exactly but not have to push it or risk injuring myslef." The mood tonight was light-hearted to say the least as members of the Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort team celebrated a day when all three of their riders finished in the top ten placings.

Two weeks ago it would have seemed inconceivable that a team of Aussie underdogs would beat the European professionals in the two week, 1700 kilometre tour. Now it seems almost a formality that the lineup of Adam Hansen, Dave Woods and James Grant will claim the prized tag of 'team champions' following another sterling display in today's penultimate stage. "Dave and James raced great again today." team leader Hansen said. "They're just so strong and both are getting better as the tour goes on."

A Simple Stage Plan

James Grant
Photo ©: Mark Watson

Hansen's game plan in today's 142 kilometre stage from Laura to Cooktown was straight forward. Stay with the leaders, don't let Czech rider Ondrej Fojtik out of his sight and should he be there at the final climb, go hard for a stage victory. In the final washup, that was exactly how it panned out as Hansen joined a group of three other riders in a breakaway.

Road conditions on the stage along the 'Battle Camp Road' through Lakefield National Park were significantly better than in previous days. Riders enjoying the more hilly terrain as the road snaked its way towards Cooktown. Once again it was the usual suspects who made the move: Alberto Elli, his Gatorade team-mate Marzio Deho, Ondrej Fojtik and Hansen.

With Deho officially out of contention in the General Classification after missing several stages due to fatigue, his presence in the lead bunch attracted close attention from race commissaires, who had warned the Italian previously to stay out of the action. It was a warning which apparently fell on deaf ears, forcing the Race Director to eject Deho from the stage and in the process angering the Gatorade team.

Robert Hotter ploughs through another creek crossing
Photo ©: Mark Watson

That left a group of three riders, with Elli, Hansen and Fojtik together at the base of Cooktown's grassy hill, approaching the final short but steep climb to the summit. Just as Hansen had allowed Elli to make the final move on yesterday's stage into Laura, today it was Elli's turn to make the gentlemanly gesture, the Italian choosing not to respond when Hansen attacked on the final climb.

The local rider carried his bike up the steps to the finish line, sealing a popular victory in the Crocodile Trophy's penultimate stage.

Photography

Images by Mark Watson/mwphotography.com.au

James Grant leads the peloton
Robert Hotter working hard to improve his position in the general classification during stage 11 of the 2004 Crocodile Trophy.
Robert Hotter ploughs through another creek crossing during Stage-11 of the 2004 Crocodile Trophy
Adam Hansen crosses the finish line in Cooktown, winning the 11th Stage of the 2004 Crocodile Trophy.
James Grant runs up the final hill after breaking his chain twice in the 11th stage of the 2004 Crocodile Trophy

Results

1 Adam Hansen (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort             5.31.26
2 Alberto Elli (Ita) Gatorade Dream Team 1                       0.23
3 Ondrej Fojtik (Cze)                                            0.30
4 Martin Kiechle (Ger)                                          11.29
5 Robert Hotter (Aut) Team Sport Nora                           15.36
6 Sibl Radoslav (Cze) Team Sport Nora                           16.09
7 Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) bikestation-salinenimmobiloen.com      21.40
8 James Grant (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort               26.19
9 Lars Erik Johnson (USA) Gatorade Dream Team 2                 38.19
10 David Woods (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort              45.26
11 Andreas Dünn (Ger) Baier-Qantas-German A.                    46.49
12 Andrew Wegener (Aus)                                         48.08
13 Tilo Koch (Ger)                                              48.26
14 Salvatore Paolo Albano (Ita) Pedale Tarvisiano             1.00.41
15 Peter Dammerer (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 1                      1.02.55
16 Adam Socha (Aus)                                           1.03.17
17 Perry Moerman (Bel) Gatorade Dream Team 2                  1.06.35
18 Thomas Moderbacher (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA              1.13.30
19 Willi Wagner (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 1                        1.14.41
20 Hans Weber (Aut) Team Fluxus                               1.44.22
21 Peter Raymann (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 2                       1.45.37
22 Loris Macor (Ita) Pedale Tarvisiano                        1.50.30
23 Stephan Adelsmayr (Aut) Drahteselklinik                    2.06.53
24 Andreas Mühlbacher (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA              2.12.21
25 Anita Waiß (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA                      2.12.23
26 Toru Watanabe (Jpn) Team Sport Nora                        2.28.12
 
Fastest Woman
 
1 Anita Waiß (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA                       7.43.49
 
Category B
 
1 Kim Proctor (Aus) SOHO                                      6.58.58
 
General Classification after stage 11
 
1 Adam Hansen (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort            53.48.37
2 Ondrej Fojtik (Cze)                                           48.30
3 Alberto Elli (Ita) Gatorade Dream Team 1                    1.29.20
4 Martin Kiechle (Ger)                                        2.24.10
5 Sibl Radoslav (Cze) Team Sport Nora                         3.07.15
6 Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) bikestation-salinenimmobiloen.com    5.09.19
7 Robert Hotter (Aut) Team Sport Nora                         5.52.49
8 Andreas Dünn (Ger) Baier-Qantas-German A.                   6.53.35
9 Tilo Koch (Ger)                                             7.04.54
10 James Grant (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort            7.22.50
11 Andrew Wegener (Aus)                                       9.05.46
12 David Woods (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort            9.18.02
13 Adam Socha (Aus)                                           9.19.42
14 Salvatore Paolo Albano (Ita) Pedale Tarvisiano            10.27.57
15 Thomas Moderbacher (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA             10.56.38
16 Lars Erik Johnson (USA) Gatorade Dream Team 2             11.40.10
17 Peter Dammerer (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 1                     13.21.09
18 Willi Wagner (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 1                       14.26.06
19 Perry Moerman (Bel) Gatorade Dream Team 2                 14.48.18
20 Loris Macor (Ita) Pedale Tarvisiano                       17.50.50
21 Anita Waiß (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA                     18.57.13
22 Hans Weber (Aut) Team Fluxus                              19.59.48
23 Andreas Mühlbacher (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA             20.35.47
24 Peter Raymann (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 2                      21.27.24
25 Toru Watanabe (Jpn) Team Sport Nora                       23.32.56
26 Stephan Adelsmayr (Aut) Drahteselklinik                   23.51.26
 
Fastest Woman Classification
 
1 Anita Waiß (Aut) skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA                      72.45.50
 
Over 40 Classification
 
1 Alberto Elli (Ita) Gatorade Dream Team 1                   55.20.11
2 Salvatore Paolo Albano (Ita) Pedale Tarvisiano              8.56.23
3 Willi Wagner (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 1                        12.54.32
4 Perry Moerman (Bel) Gatorade Dream Team 2                  13.16.44
5 Peter Raymann (Aut) Team Hervis NÖ 2                       19.55.50
6 Stephan Adelsmayr (Aut) Drahteselklinik                    22.19.52
 
Category B Classification
 
1 Kim Proctor (Aus) SOHO                                     23.06.45
 
Points Classification
 
1 Adam Hansen (Aus) Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort                 155 pts
2 Alberto Elli (Ita) Gatorade Dream Team 1                        135
3 Ondrej Fojtik (Cze)                                             105
4 Martin Kiechle (Ger)                                             61
5 Sibl Radoslav (Cze) Team Sport Nora                              31
6 Robert Hotter (Aut) Team Sport Nora                              22
7 Jurgen Van de Walle (Bel) Gatorade Dream Team 1                  17
8 Lars Erik Johnson (USA) Gatorade Dream Team 2                    15
8 Mario Amann (Aut) Baustoff + Metall 1                            15
10 Marzio Deho (Ita) Gatorade Dream Team 1                         10
11 Gerhard Gulewicz (Aut) bikestation-salinenimmobiloen.com         4
12 Perry Moerman (Bel) Gatorade Dream Team 2                        2
 
Teams Classification
 
1 Cairns Coconut Caravan Resort                             179.08.28
2 Team Sport Nora                                            14.50.48
3 skinfit TEAM AUSTRIA                                       32.47.01