Crocodile Trophy 2002

Australia, September 10-22, 2002

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Stage 6: September 15, Chillagoe - Mt. Mulgrave, 122 km

XXXX country

By Christi Valentine-Anderson

Tricky finish
Photo: © Mark Watson

After quite a relaxed rest day where a few very sore bums got a much needed day to repair, it was all back on for another 122 km in the dirt. The entire stage was on a dirt road with only one turn 20 kilometers from the finish through the Mitchell River. It was a mountain bike stage custom made for roadies like race leader Jaap Vierger, Phil Anderson and Jurji Robic. And that's exactly how it stacked up.

With a raging tail wind the stage finished in a record 3 hours 41 minutes. Even with the sand dust and corrugations these a group of six big strong men escaped and made quick work of the 122 km stage. The six big engines were, Jaap Viergever, Bart Bosmans, Phil Anderson, Kris Lapere, Jurji Robic and Clemens Muhsinger. As they rounded the last corner and were diverted away from the newly made bridge over the Mitchell River, there was a moment of hesitation from Anderson who was told they needed to carry their bikes through the Mitchell (last year). In that moment of hesitation Jaap and Bart sailed past to pip Anderson for the finish. The 44 year old was not exactly thrilled with the error.

The stage finished at a 1200 square mile cattle station. The Mount Mulgrave Station carries 15,000 head of Brahman cattle as well as 110 horses, and of course the odd aircraft, as you do. The station owners Beverly and Howard Kingsley provided the race with one really big perk, along with their true blue hospitality they offered to take our camera people up in their chopper. As I was the last to go and the race nearly complete, I was given a insider view of sons Leon and Luke along with hired hand Bernard as they went Bull catching. It was a magnificent way to see the station and get an up close look at the goings on in the Out Back. It's definitely in the "Don't try this at home" section of the event.

The Kingsley's later came and joined the race entourage for a few RedBulls and Four XXXX's as we camped along the Mitchell.

Several hours after Jaap's second stage winning finish, Debra Eason of Victoria came across the line looking rather rugged. She had arrived at the one turn in the course and the arrow which had fallen during the stage had been replaced in the wrong direction. Deb then added and extra 35 kilometers to her race and still finished in the cut off time! She's a real trooper.

Photography

Images by Mark Watson/MW Photography

Two riders make a water crossing during stage 6
The finish of stage 6 in Mt Mulgrave was slightly tricky

Results

1 Jaap Viergever (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos               3.41.06 (32.56 km/h)
2 Bart Bosmans (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg                 0.01
3 Phil Anderson (Aus) Dream Team
4 Kris Lapere (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg                  0.08
5 Jurji Robic (Slo) Team Robic                            0.09
6 Clemens Mühsinger (Ger)                                 0.14
7 Oyvind Aas (Nor) Team Kelly/Hi5 Norway                  8.43
8 Martin Kellermann (Aut)                                 8.45
9 Thomas Riegler (Aut) Team Riegler
10 Peter Paelinck (Bel) Team www.reevax.be                9.14
11 Adrian Laing (Aus) Team Brett                         11.16
12 Filip Claes (Bel)                                     14.32
13 Paul Meyvis (Bel)                                     17.24
14 Dennis Teeuwen (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos                19.54
15 Hans Henrik Nielsen (Den)                             22.04
16 Bart Schols (Bel)                                     22.15
17 Theo Molenbrugge (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos              22.21
18 Peter Nejsig (Den)                                    22.50
19 Dominiek Sacre (Bel) Team www.reevax.be               22.54
20 Rudi Donckers (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg              22.56
21 Anthony Michelle (Aus) Team Brett                     24.20
22 David Olle (Aus) Dream Team                           39.20
23 Jack Oldfield (Aus)                                   46.18
24 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                          46.20
25 Steven Pauwels (Bel) Team www.reevax.be               46.23
26 Wouter Declercq (Bel) Team Mieke                      46.25
27 Charles Blanc (Fra)                                   48.56
28 Reinhard Hörmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso               53.10
29 Franz Hartmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso                 53.12
30 Peter Dammerer (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso                 53.18
31 Kim Lindberg (Den)                                    59.43
32 Jon Spar (Aus) Team Brett                           1.04.54
33 Peter Brett (Aus) Team Brett                        1.04.54
34 Ronny Potter (Bel)                                  1.15.39
35 Joachim Rintsch (Ger)                               1.17.05
36 Wolfgang Kristinus (Aut) Team Baustoff & Metall     1.19.50
37 Toru Watanabe (Jap)                                 1.41.50
38 Carrie Edwards (USA)                                1.51.54
39 Stefan Schlett (Ger)                                2.08.12
40 Kurt Poisinger (Aut)                                2.23.29
41 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                    2.28.54
42 Joe Schifano (Aus) Team Brett                       2.28.54
 
Women
 
1 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                         4.27.26 (26.92 km/h)
2 Carrie Edwards (USA)                                 1.05.34
3 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                     1.42.34
 
Light
 
1 Claudia Kristen (Ger)
2 Phil Best (Aus)
3 Dominic Barber (Aus)
 
General classification after stage 6
 
1 Jaap Viergever (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos              28.14.02 (29.96 km/h)
2 Kris Lapere (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg                  5.55
3 Jurji Robic (Slo) Team Robic                           18.56
4 Clemens Mühsinger (Ger)                                36.13
5 Phil Anderson (Aus) Dream Team                         41.35
6 Oyvind Aas (Nor) Team Kelly/Hi5 Norway               1.20.18
7 Thomas Riegler (Aut) Team Riegler                    1.25.56
8 Martin Kellermann (Aut)                              1.39.52
9 Bart Bosmans (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg              1.40.42
10 Peter Paelinck (Bel) Team www.reevax.be             2.07.56
11 Paul Meyvis (Bel)                                   2.09.11
12 Hans Henrik Nielsen (Den)                           2.33.41
13 Filip Claes (Bel)                                   2.38.14
14 Adrian Laing (Aus) Team Brett                       2.38.26
15 Bart Schols (Bel)                                   2.56.04
16 Dominiek Sacre (Bel) Team www.reevax.be             3.01.41
17 Peter Nejsig (Den)                                  3.09.35
18 Anthony Michelle (Aus) Team Brett                   4.27.31
19 Dennis Teeuwen (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos              4.40.52
20 Peter Brett (Aus) Team Brett                        5.32.15
21 Jon Spar (Aus) Team Brett                           5.48.21
22 Theo Molenbrugge (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos            5.51.51
23 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                        6.03.34
24 Rudi Donckers (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg            6.12.46
25 Wouter Declercq (Bel) Team Mieke                    6.13.55
26 David Olle (Aus) Dream Team                         6.35.27
27 Jack Oldfield (Aus)                                 6.51.33
28 Charles Blanc (Fra)                                 8.37.12
29 Peter Dammerer (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso               8.51.06
30 Steven Pauwels (Bel) Team www.reevax.be             8.57.37
31 Reinhard Hörmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso             9.07.32
32 Kim Lindberg (Den)                                  9.25.16
33 Joachim Rintsch (Ger)                               9.31.07
34 Franz Hartmann (Aut) Bike Drive/Rapso               9.45.27
35 Carrie Edwards (USA)                               10.07.26
36 Wolfgang Kristinus (Aut) Team Baustoff & Metall    10.18.12
37 Ronny Potter (Bel)                                 12.13.35
38 Joe Schifano (Aus) Team Brett                      12.34.10
39 Stefan Schlett (Ger)                               14.08.30
40 Toru Watanabe (Jap)                                14.26.30
41 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                   14.59.26
42 Kurt Poisinger (Aut)                               16.03.58
 
Women classification
 
2 Mieke Deroo (Bel) Team Mieke                        34.17.36
3 Carrie Edwards (USA)                                 4.03.52
1 Debra Eason (Aus) Team Australia                     8.55.52
 
Light classification
 
1 Claudia Kristen (Ger)
2 Phil Best (Aus)
3 Dominic Barber (Aus)
 
Points classification
 
1 Jaap Viergever (Ned) Tom Tailor/Santos                    85 pts
2 Kris Lapere (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg                    62
3 Jurji Robic (Slo) Team Robic                              55
4 Phil Anderson (Aus) Dream Team                            42
5 Bart Bosmans (Bel) Cycling Team Limburg                   35
6 Clemens Mühsinger (Ger)                                   17
7 Oyvind Aas (Nor) Team Kelly/Hi5 Norway                     7
7 Peter Paelinck (Bel) Team www.reevax.be                    7
9 Hans Henrik Nielsen (Den)                                  2