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13th Crocodile Trophy - NE
Australia, October 23-29, 2007
Main Page Results Overall standings Previous Stage Next Stage
Stage 8 - October 30: Laura - Cooktown, 142 km
Rucker lives his dream, wins in Cooktown
Austrian Stefan Rucker today completed his major objective for the Crocodile Trophy of 2007, winning the event's "Queen of Stages" from Laura to Cooktown in Australia's remote Far North.
Rucker was part of a four man group that powered away from the start of the 140-kilometre stage, as the protagonists encountered the dust and deep corrugations of the aptly named Battle Camp Road.
"Two years ago when I was riding The Crocodile the first time I thought it would be really nice to win in Cooktown," Rucker said. "Last year I won four stages but it wasn't a good year. After the trophy I promised that I'd come back and try to win here, that was my main goal."
The group containing Rucker, race leader Mauro Bettin of Italy, Luxembourg's Benoît Joachim and Dane Allan Carlsen, surged ahead after just three kilometres of today's stage.
Czech Ondrej Fojtik, Bettin's main rival in the general classification, missed the jump after suffering problems with his chain and lost significant time. Only a major mechanical issue or injury during tomorrow's stage through the Daintree could prevent Bettin from taking away his very first Crocodile Trophy.
Still, Italy's former World Cup Champion wasn't entirely satisfied with the result, given the Felt Dream Team was perfectly placed with two riders out of the four in the lead group with one kilometre to go.
Rucker was forced to respond to an attack from the Dream Team's Benoît Joachim before the base of Cooktown's iconic Grassy Hill, and in the process managed to drop Bettin.
"I am a little bit happy today, it's OK for the [general] classification," Bettin said.
"Tomorrow is a good stage, I think I may be the winner, maybe."
Results
1 Stefan Rucker (Aut) Elk Haus 2 Mauro Bettin (Ita) Felt Dream Team 3 Benoît Joachim (Lux) Felt Dream Team 4 Allan Carlsen (Den) 5 Ondrej Fojtik (Cze) 6 Tim Bennett (Aus)
