Crocodile Trophy 2002

Australia, September 10-22, 2002

Main Results Next stage

Stage 1 - September 10, Mareeba - Irvinebank, 78 km

The eighth edition of the Crocodile Trophy, the World's toughest mountain bike race, started today! The course covers 1500 rugged kms in 12 stages, through the outback.

The cyclists certainly suffered today over the 86 kms from Mareeba to Irvinebank. What started as a day perfectly suited to the likes of Phil Anderson, Jurji Robic and last year's winner Jaap Viergever, with 40 kms on bitumen, took a painfull turn after the first water station, into deep sand for another 5 kms. Finally the sand gave way to sharp rocks, deep corrigations and countless steep climbs. What tyres does one choose for a stage with this profile? Semislicks mainly but in the case of Phil Anderson who had two punctures during the stage it did not matter which he chose.

Jaap Viergever took the stage easily with a full support team behind him, he came well prepared. Following in a fourwheel drive Jaap was clearly in his element with great power as well extrodinary skills on the decent. He finished alone, ahead and pretty fresh considering. Jaap said," I didn't feel I was ready two weeks ago but on the plane to Australia I knew I was ready." When asked who he thought would bew his biggest challenger. Jaap said, " Phil" and then quickly added, " And of course Jurji Robic, he is strong as a horse."

This is no course for nervous rider. It's technical, grueling and long. The bull dust gets in your eyes and teeth and in effect makes your water into a silty mud... It's great fun! As if to purposely make it tougher this is a camping trip. So after some stages in excess of 180 kms, you then have to erect your tent and bath in the river... it's not for everyone, but it is one fantastic adventure!

There are 54 competitors, 4 women, and the eldest rider is 65.

Photos

Phil Anderson battles the heat

Results

Men                                                 Time           KM/H
1 Jaap Viergever (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos            2.45.46.61    (30.40)
2 Clemens Mühsinger (Ger)                              3.47.52
3 Jurji Robic (Slo) Team Robic                         6.37.99
4 Kris Lapere (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg               7.20.48
5 Hans Henrik Nielsen (Den)                           12.51.06
6 Oyvind Aas (Nor) Team Kelly/Hi5 Norway              16.22.23
7 Thomas Riegler (Aut) Team Riegler                   19.48.37
8 Peter Paelinck (Bel) Team www.reevax.be             20.45.67
9 Bart Schols (Bel)                                   20.46.68
10 Phil Anderson (Aus) Dream Team                     24.27.86
11 Bart Bosmans (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg            26.53.84
12 Filip Claes (Bel)                                  27.32.24
13 Dominiek Sacre (Bel) Team www.reevax.be            28.50.13
14 Dennis Teeuwen (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos             30.35.29
15 Adrian Laing (Aus) Team Brett                      32.22.96
16 Martin Kellermann (Aut)                            32.31.13
17 Paul Meyvis (Bel)                                  32.47.25
18 Peter Nejsig (Den)                                 34.31.71
19 Anthony Michelle (Aus) Team Brett                  46.28.00
20 Jon Spar (Aus) Team Brett                          46.30.00
21 Jack Oldfield (Aus)                                48.22.27
22 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                       53.29.06
23 Rudi Donckers (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg           53.58.38
24 Wouter Declercq (Bel) Team Mieke                   54.00.06
25 Peter Brett (Aus) Team Brett                       58.57.57
26 Kim Lindberg (Den)                               1.04.40.12
27 Barry Burns (Aus) Team Australia                 1.06.23.64
28 David Olle (Aus) Dream Team                      1.06.24.19
29 Joachim Rintsch (Ger)                            1.08.10.41
30 Stefan Schlett (Ger)                             1.20.05.05
31 Peter Dammerer (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso            1.21.17.02
32 Gabriele Inzinger (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso         1.21.17.74
33 Theo Molenbrugge (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos         1.25.30.78
34 Franz Hartmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso            1.28.10.43
35 Reinhard Hörmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso          1.28.10.86
36 Günter Kanzler (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso            1.28.11.57
37 Charles Blanc (Fra)                              1.31.21.84
38 Steven Pauwels (Bel) Team www.reevax.be          1.32.21.54
39 Carrie Edwards (USA)                             1.34.17.76
40 Franz R. Rottmeyer (Aut) Team Baustoff & Metall  1.36.03.73
41 Wolfgang Kristinus (Aut) Team Baustoff & Metall  1.39.35.12
42 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                 1.52.59.35
43 Kurt Poisinger (Aut)                             1.55.04.26
44 Joe Schifano (Aus) Team Brett                    2.16.36.53
45 Ronny Potter (Bel)                               2.17.23.09
46 Sue Carey (Aus) Team Australia                   2.19.46.24
47 Eike Grünhagen (Ger) Team Dix                    2.30.36.52
48 Toru Watanabe JAP                                2.36.36.59
49 Hagen Dix (Ger) Team Dix                         2.37.38.52

Women                                               Time           KM/H
1 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                      3.39.16.06    (22.98)
2 Gabriele Inzinger (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso            27.48.68
3 Carrie Edwards (USA)                                40.48.70
4 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                    59.30.29
5 Sue Carey (Aus) Team Australia                    1.26.17.18