Huber secures Crocodile Trophy
Dutchman Brentjens wins Ayton stage
Swiss mountain biker Urs Huber added his name to the exclusive international list of cyclists who have won Australia's Crocodile Trophy, after enduring an intense nine-day battle with Dutchman Bart Brentjens.
A testament to both the talent and mental strength of the 24-year-old World Championship bronze medallist, Huber rode with such power on the day's final mountain stage in Australia's Daintree that Brentjens was unable to launch an attack to reel in his one minute and 26 second lead.
Instead, it was Huber who did the attacking as the race headed off-road onto the CREB Track, a perilous ascent into the rainforest that has become part of the Crocodile Trophy's growing tradition.
"It's very important. It's my first win in a stage race and ten days," an elated Huber said. "When I can say I won the Crocodile Trophy, it's a great thing."
Huber launched his first attack at the base of the CREB where the gradient is close to 20 percent. Behind him, the former Olympic and World Champion appeared visibly in pain, but Brentjens refused to give in and continually clawed his way back.
"After the second depot I made the pace and Bart could not come with me," Huber said. "So I saw that and I thought that I should roll without risk to the finish."
That was easier said than done as the Crocodile Trophy ventured onto the zig-zag track, one of the most technical sections of the race. It was there that Brentjens had planned to attack, near the river crossing at Roaring Meg. Huber and Brentjens had already reeled in an early breakaway containing Slovenian Jure Robic and Belgian Mike Mulkens.
When the riders reached the river, Huber crossed first, the smile on his face obvious as he realised the Crocodile Trophy was his for the taking.
"I was dropped a few times and I came back and I had to follow him," Brentjens said. "He (Huber) really put the hammer down and all I could do was follow his wheel, actually there was no chance for me to make an attack."
There was a degree of consolation for Brentjens as he won the sprint to the finish in Ayton - his sixth stage victory in this edition of the race.
But the ultimate objective proved elusive this time around for "Sir Bart" who is already plotting a course to Australia in 2010 to make amends.
"It's a really nice stage race to ride, it's a challenge, an adventure, nice country, nice area and has good organisation," Brentjens said.
"I've already spoken with Gerhard (Schoenbacher) about next year. I'd like to come back and try to win, now I know a little bit more about the course, maybe I can win it once."
Belgian Mike Mulkens hung on bravely again to finish third in the stage and third overall, while Robic, who attacked today, almost from the gun, had to settle for fourth on both counts.
"Today I tried one last time to attack and I felt very strong on the climbs," Robic, the four-time Race Across America winner said.
"I came to this race not prepared after an injury to my ribs and I decide only two days before the race to come, so I have to be pleased."
Zeldenrust wins women's event, McLennan and Pleyer share the experience
At the end of nine days, It was a foregone conclusion that Dutchwoman Monique Zeldenrust would become the women's victor of the 2009 Crocodile Trophy.
Zendenrust, who has been racing with her father Martin, made easy work of today's stage, bringing to an end an almost flawless campaign.
However, the battle for the minor placings, intense until this point, took an unusual turn today.
Australia's Abby McLennan and Austria's Lisa Pleyer, who continued to fight for supremacy during today's stage, crossed the finish line together, to signal an official end to on-course hostilities.
"I stuck with Lisa all day and we just kept fighting it out, in the end we decided to cross the line to-gether, as a sporting gesture," McLennan said.
Pleyer finished the race in second overall, with McLennan an impressive third.
The experience, one that McLennan and her Rattle & Hum teammates will carry with them.
"Just the achievement that we feel is amazing it's the best thing we've done in our life I think," McLennan said. "I already feel prematurely excited that it's over and we do have to ride tomorrow.
"We're going to enjoy the feeling that we have and try to make it last as long as possible."
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Bart Brentjens (Ned) Trek-Brentjens MTB racing team | 4:25:36 |
2 | Urs Huber (Swi) Team Stöckli-Craft | 0:00:01 |
3 | Mike Mulkens (Bel) | 0:05:32 |
4 | Jurij Robic (Slo) Matej & Jure | 0:13:38 |
5 | Tomas Kozak (Cze) Di-Elcom-Outdoor sports club | 0:14:16 |
6 | Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Dream Team | 0:24:50 |
7 | Steve Rankine (Aus) Tropical Tablelands Discovery | 0:28:57 |
8 | Shane Taylor (Aus) ADCC/Rocky Trail Entertainment | 0:35:58 |
9 | Daris Zubani (Ita) Neviprogettoavventura | 0:38:00 |
10 | James Banner-Smith (Aus) Rattle N Hum | 0:59:31 |
11 | Ivan Negro (Ita) Neviprogettoavventura | 1:11:51 |
12 | Christoph Kirchmeier (Aut) | 1:21:40 |
13 | Morten Larsen (Den) Team Sun-Print | 1:22:35 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Monique Zeldenrust (Ned) | 5:23:23 |
2 | Lisa Pleyer (Aut) Roadbike Holidays - KTM | 0:13:25 |
3 | Abby McLennan (Aus) Rattle N Hum | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Eva Hasek (Cze) Outdoor sports club | 1:54:10 |
5 | Sharman Parr (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 2:17:06 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Raimund Burböck (Aut) | 4:39:52 |
2 | Isaac Tonello (Aus) | 0:10:34 |
3 | Nikolaus Syc (Ger) LeXXi MTB feat.VulkanBike.de | 0:14:41 |
4 | Alexander Valdiek (Ger) JRV Team Deutsche Sepsisgesellschaft | 0:19:29 |
5 | Franz Preihs (Aut) Radsport Kotnik-Focus | 0:22:41 |
6 | Glen De Bont (Bel) Shifting Gears | 0:23:44 |
7 | Sam Nathan (Aus) Team Nathan | 0:45:15 |
8 | Sam Brovender (Can) Team SDC Chris Nicholson | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Per Imer (Den) Team Sun-Print | 0:52:33 |
10 | Ron Whitehead (Aus) Ron Whitehead | 0:56:57 |
11 | Dennis Bergen (Den) Team Sun-Print | 1:08:19 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Branko Grah (Aut) Team RC Sereno | 4:50:25 |
2 | Milan Spolc (Cze) Dream Team | 0:00:01 |
3 | Erich Reith (Aut) | 0:17:37 |
4 | Günter Weichbold (Aut) | 0:28:28 |
5 | Pieter van Rooyen SAF Team Van Rooyen | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Chris Nicholson (Aus) Team SDC Chris Nicholson | 0:34:42 |
7 | Scott McLennan (Aus) Rattle N Hum | 0:46:24 |
8 | Pio Tomasetig (Ita) Team Tomesetig | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Josef Neururer (Swi) Velolade-Hittnau.ch | 0:56:51 |
10 | Rudolf Hansgut (Cze) | 0:57:46 |
11 | Yvan Vekemans (Bel) Belgian Power/Granville | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Erwin Klocker (Aus) | 1:24:03 |
13 | Kees Zuidhoek (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | 1:31:07 |
14 | Jörg Steenbock (Ger) wingsforlife.com | 1:35:22 |
15 | Mohammed Boufessile (Bel) Belgian Power/Granville | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Heinz von Holzen (Swi) | 1:37:12 |
17 | Marten Zeldenrust (Ned) | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Bernhard Weixelbaum (Aut) Team RC Sereno | 1:54:50 |
19 | Geert Matthijs (Bel) Team Matthys | 1:59:17 |
20 | Paul van Hattem (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Theo Molenbrugge (Ned) Theo Molenbrugge | 2:01:04 |
22 | Willemjan Hopstaken (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | 2:14:51 |
23 | Hennie Schoonheim (Ned) | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Andrew Graham (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 2:14:52 |
25 | Aaron Pickett-Heaps (Aus) | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Jan van Baast (Ned) | 2:27:09 |
27 | Greg Parr (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 2:50:04 |
28 | Erik Stokman (Ned) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Chris Neal (Aus) | 4:05:05 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Klaus Sever (Aut) Radsport Weichberger BionX | 8:10:53 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bart Brentjens (Ned) | 20 | pts |
2 | Urs Huber (Swi) | 15 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Mike Mulkens (Bel) | 10 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Jurij Robic (Slo) | 5 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Josh Prete (Aus) | Row 4 - Cell 2 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
5 | Tomas Kozak (Cze) | 2 | pts |
7 | Milan Spolc (Cze) | Row 6 - Cell 2 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Steve Rankine (Aus) | Row 7 - Cell 2 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Kai Hundertmark (Ger) | Row 8 - Cell 2 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Rattle N Hum | 5:25:07 |
2 | Team Sun-Print | 0:23:04 |
3 | Team Kees Fietsshop | 1:24:35 |
4 | Jungle Patrol; Wilderness Medicine | 2:15:22 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Urs Huber (Swi) Team Stöckli-Craft | 33:59:06 |
2 | Bart Brentjens (Ned) Trek-Brentjens mtb racing team | 0:01:20 |
3 | Mike Mulkens (Bel) | 1:09:27 |
4 | Jurij Robic (Slo) Matej & Jure | 1:41:31 |
5 | Tomas Kozak (Cze) Di-Elcom-Outdoor sports club | 2:05:54 |
6 | Kai Hundertmark (Ger) Dream Team | 2:58:47 |
7 | Steve Rankine (Aus) Tropical Tablelands Discovery | 3:16:11 |
8 | Shane Taylor (Aus) ADCC/Rocky Trail Entertainment | 4:54:16 |
9 | Daris Zubani (Ita) Neviprogettoavventura | 5:26:59 |
10 | Morten Larsen (Den) Team Sun-Print | 8:32:46 |
11 | Ivan Negro (Ita) Neviprogettoavventura | 8:48:17 |
12 | James Banner-Smith (Aus) Rattle N Hum | 10:07:22 |
13 | Christoph Kirchmeier (Aut) | 11:12:51 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Monique Zeldenrust (Ned) | 41:45:35 |
2 | Lisa Pleyer (Aut) Roadbike Holidays - KTM | 1:37:58 |
3 | Abby McLennan (Aus) Rattle N Hum | 1:55:30 |
4 | Eva Hasek (Cze) Outdoor sports club | 10:16:37 |
5 | Sharman Parr (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 15:37:15 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Isaac Tonello (Aus) Tropical Tablelands Discovery | 37:08:00 |
2 | Alexander Valdiek (Ger) JRV Team Deutsche Sepsisgesellschaft | 0:27:22 |
3 | Nikolaus Syc (Ger) LeXXi MTB feat.VulkanBike.de | 0:50:09 |
4 | Raimund Burböck (Aut) | 1:44:25 |
5 | Franz Preihs (Aut) Radsport Kotnik-Focus | 2:14:44 |
6 | Glen De Bont (Bel) Shifting Gears | 2:14:57 |
7 | Sam Nathan (Aus) Team Nathan | 3:22:51 |
8 | Per Imer (Den) Team Sun-Print | 5:13:41 |
9 | Sam Brovender (Can) Team SDC Chris Nicholson | 5:44:32 |
10 | Dennis Bergen (Den) Team Sun-Print | 6:54:08 |
11 | Ron Whitehead (Aus) Ron Whitehead | 6:55:36 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Milan Spolc (Cze) Dream Team | 36:32:57 |
2 | Branko Grah (Aut) Team RC Sereno | 1:12:15 |
3 | Erich Reith (Aut) | 2:34:46 |
4 | Günter Weichbold (Aut) | 3:19:15 |
5 | Pieter van Rooyen SAF Team Van Rooyen | 4:51:10 |
6 | Chris Nicholson (Aus) Team SDC Chris Nicholson | 6:07:26 |
7 | Josef Neururer (Swi) Velolade-Hittnau.ch | 6:54:57 |
8 | Pio Tomasetig (Ita) Team Tomesetig | 7:01:48 |
9 | Scott McLennan (Aus) Rattle N Hum | 7:09:58 |
10 | Yvan Vekemans (Bel) Belgian Power/Granville | 7:10:44 |
11 | Kees Zuidhoek (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | 8:27:55 |
12 | Rudolf Hansgut (Cze) | 9:34:11 |
13 | Jörg Steenbock (Ger) wingsforLife.com | 11:00:18 |
14 | Mohammed Boufessile (Bel) Belgian Power/Granville | 11:24:39 |
15 | Marten Zeldenrust (Ned) | 11:40:42 |
16 | Bernhard Weixelbaum (Aut) Team RC Sereno | 12:54:29 |
17 | Geert Matthijs (Bel) Team Matthys | 13:05:22 |
18 | Theo Molenbrugge (Ned) Theo Molenbrugge | 15:10:47 |
19 | Paul van Hattem (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | 16:55:15 |
20 | Hennie Schoonheim (Ned) | 16:55:18 |
21 | Aaron Pickett-Heaps (Aus) | 17:00:09 |
22 | Andrew Graham (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 17:11:23 |
23 | Willemjan Hopstaken (Ned) Team Kees Fietsshop | 17:17:53 |
24 | Greg Parr (Aus) jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 19:41:20 |
25 | Erwin Klocker (Aus) | 20:06:00 |
26 | Heinz von Holzen (Swi) | 20:17:40 |
27 | Jan van Baast (Ned) | 22:03:53 |
28 | Erik Stokman (Ned) | 23:02:41 |
29 | Chris Neal (Aus) | 26:47:33 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result | Header Cell - Column 3 |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Bart Brentjens (Ned) | 150 | pts |
2 | Urs Huber (Swi) | 130 | Row 1 - Cell 3 |
3 | Mike Mulkens (Bel) | 57 | Row 2 - Cell 3 |
4 | Jurij Robic (Slo) | 44 | Row 3 - Cell 3 |
5 | Josh Prete (Aus) | 12 | Row 4 - Cell 3 |
5 | Tomas Kozak (Cze) | 12 | Row 5 - Cell 3 |
7 | Milan Spolc (Cze) | 5 | Row 6 - Cell 3 |
8 | Steve Rankine (Aus) | 4 | Row 7 - Cell 3 |
9 | Kai Hundertmark (Ger) | 2 | Row 8 - Cell 3 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Team Sun-Print | 42:30:29 |
2 | Rattle N Hum | 1:35:59 |
3 | Team Kees Fietsshop | 9:15:32 |
4 | jungle patrol; wilderness medicine | 13:43:48 |
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