Top three unchanged in Crocodile Trophy
The Crocodile Trophy’s second week has yet to see a shake-up. The 10-stage Australian mountain bike race began last Tuesday and will be finishing on Thursday, leaving only two stages left for any chance to take a podium spot from the three leading riders.
Urs Huber remains in the overall lead, with Bart Brentjens 4:51 behind and Mike Mulkens 34:47 behind. Tuesday’s stage eight was won by Allan Oras in a summit finish above Cooktown.
"This is the most beautiful view I have ever seen in my life," said Oras at the finish line, the 34-year-old Estonian’s eyes glued to the same panoramic view which welcomed Captain Cook in his 1777 arrival in Australia. "My friend Jaan Kirsipuu helped me
and carried a lot of the workload."
Oras was joined on the podium by Cory Wallace and Urs Huber, nearly five minutes behind. The victory allowed Oras to move ahead of Wallace into fourth place in the general classification, while Huber’s podium finish allowed him to widen the gap ahead of
Brentjens and Mulkens.
"Allan somehow got away from us,” said Huber. “There wasn't much harmony among our racing field today, so we didn't continue trying to chase him."
Brenjens leads in stage wins, having won the 151km seventh stage on Monday, his third victory in the race. The former Worlds and Olympic champion finished one second ahead of Huber and third-place and double stage-winner Philipp Ludescher, the youngest competitor
in the race. Ludescher is trying to match Brenjens three stage wins, having won the fourth and fifth but then fallen out of reach of the podium due to mechanical issues.
"So close, again!" said Ludescher. "I messed up the sandy corner before the finish straight and was hanging onto the wrong wheel."
Huber, the overall race leader, has held that distinction since he won the first stage ahead of Brentjens. Wallace finished that stage in third and held that position overall until Mulkens took over in the third stage. Nothing changed in the sixth stage,
since the riders rode a neutral, non-competitive race out of respect for Weit Heuker, who unexpectedly died in his sleep the night before.
"Our deepest condolences go out to the family, friends and team mates," said race organiser Gerhard Schönbacher.
The 59-year-old Dutch mountain biker was competing in the Crocodile Trophy but suffered fatal cardiovascular and circulatory failure during the night of 23-24 October.
"We learned this morning, unfortunately only now, that Weit Heuker already had suffered a cardiac arrest a few years ago and had been under medical care since then," said Dr. Alexandra Reimann, head doctor of the race.
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