All 2012 participants and mountain bike fans agreed that “the 18th edition of the Crocodile Trophy was the best ever.”

The Czech racer Ivan Rybarik won the elite men’s category and the worldclass triathlete Kate Major from Australia claimed the women’s title.

The arrangements for 2013 have already been made and they hold a lot of new plans for the mountain bike stage event in the Australian Outback, which has been known as the “world’s hardest, longest, hottest and most adventurous race”.

Shorter stages and more trails

Almost all stages will be the same as last year with three slight changes. “The stages will stay shorter than in previous years, however, they will include considerably more mountain bike tracks again”, promises event organizer Gerhard Schönbacher. “Furthermore, a time trial will ensure more variety and a huge challenge on day six”.

After the successful finish on Grassy Hill in Cooktown last year, the spectacular landing site of the legendary Captain Cook will crown the stage race at its grand finale also in 2013. Overall, the participants will ride 855 km and more than 15,000 m in elevation.

Crocodile Trophy to host longest individual time trial in the world

After stage five from Mt. Mulligan to Adams Dam with 147 km, which will be the longest stage in this year’s race, the next day on the road to the former Goldmining town of Maytown the Crocodile Trophy will set a record: racers will have to complete this distance of 97 km individually, resulting for it to be the longest time trial in the world. The eighth stage finishes in Hopevale - a small Aboriginal community and the final stage to Cooktown is the second shortest stage, but beautiful single tracks will deliver everything a mountain biker’s heart could wish for.

Favourites

Three serious candidates for the final podium have signed up already: The second in last year’s overall classification and race winner of 2008, the Czech rider Ondrej Fojtik. Wolfgang Krenn from Austria, third last year and second in 2011, said that he wants to climb the highest point of the podium in his third attempt. Not to forget the Canadian Cory Wallace, the tireless crusader who finished fourth last year. Then there is the Belgian rider Mike Mulkens who won last year his first stage in Maytown after two second overall positions in previous events – and last, but not least, the best Australian finisher in 2012, Steve Rankin. Nobody else knows the Outback like the strong Queensland rider.

New category: Team Relay

Organisers will also introduce a new exciting category for the Crocodile Trophy 2013: „The Relay Team“. A relay team will consist of three participants, where one rider of each team has to ride a day’s stage and the other two team riders go to the next camp in an official vehicle. Each rider of a relay team has to complete a minimum of one stage on a bike. A change during the stage will not be allowed.

Stages  Crocodile Trophy 2013

19. Oct. 1. stage    Cairns – Smithfield (5 laps x 6 km)     30 km /      800 hm

20. Oct. 2. stage    Cairns – Lake Tinaroo      92 km /   2.500 hm

21. Oct. 3. stage    Atherton – Irvinebank    111 km /   2.700 hm

22. Oct. 4. stage    Irvinebank – Mt. Mulligan   114 km /   1.600 hm

23. Oct. 5. stage    Mt. Mulligan – Adams Dam   147 km /   2.700 hm

24. Oct. 6. stage    Adams Dam – Maytown (ind.timetrial)    96 km /   1.400 hm

25. Oct. 7. stage    Maytown – Laura      87 km /   1.300 hm

26. Oct. 8. stage    Laura – Hopevale    122 km /   1.200 hm

27. Oct. 9. stage    Hope Vale – Cooktown        56 km /   1.100 hm

Total                   855 km/ 15.300 hm

Image copyright Regina Stanger/Crocodile Trophy 2012

A mountain bike specialist has usurped her contemporaries including a young gun trail runner in the second edition of the Montane Seasons of Pain multisport series held seasonally on Mount Baw Baw, in Victoria. Team iRide Rocky Mountain rider, Jade Forsyth, took out the female category win, apparently surprising even herself.

“I entered not knowing where I would finish amongst the girls as this was my first venture into the world of multisport events,” said Jade. “So I was stoked to win!”

In second place was rising star of the trail running scene, Lucy Bartholomew, who, only nearing her 17th birthday, will be a star of the singletrack in years to come. “But maybe not in multisport,” she says. “I’m not great on the bike and had to walk some of the ride sections. I think I’ll enter as a team next time with a mountain biking partner!”

In the men’s it was second time lucky for Stephen Rennick, who came 11th in the inaugural Summer Montane Seasons of Pain in January, but turned up the speed a notch for the Autumn edition to outclass notable triathlete and adventure racer, Aaron Dodd, in second place.

The tussle was tight between the pair from the starter’s bell.

“I knew I was in for a challenging race when Aaron took off from the bell at a cracking pace,” said Rennick. “For the first (trail run) lap I was on par with Aaron, but he was first out of transition for the first bike leg. My plan was to try to catch him on the hill climb and enter the singletrack section first to try to get a bit of a lead, which I managed to do.

“I then focused on settling into a rhythm on the second run leg, and by the last mountain bike leg I was focusing on getting through as efficiently as possible as the legs were getting rather heavy.

Rennick singled out the Seasons course – slightly shortened for this edition – for high praise.

“The location, the snow gums and alpine terrain is something different and quite special,” said Rennick. “The format of the event of a trail run and mountain bike is perfect for someone like me just getting into multi discipline racing. I’ve been interested in adventure racing for a while, and this event was a perfect starting point as the distances are achievable, but still challenging. It’s also more accessible for people who don't swim or own kayaks and being a grassroots event, the atmosphere was relaxed and competitors friendly. Oh, and the prize money is a good lure too!”

For all competitors is was the now infamous ‘Sting’ – a final 1.5km/400m vertical ascent – that will stick in the memory as much as crossing the line first.

“The toughest part of the race with out a doubt,” said Rennick. “It was a bit like a dream, trying to run it, but you just can't. You know you have given everything by the top because the legs are burning. With the thinner air and heart racing at near max, it was just about getting to the top and over the line.”

Said Forsyth: “The Sting...well, what can I say...my legs stung! I think it was the most challenging part for me but rewarding at the same time.”

Both winners spoke highly of the course they’d just conquered, which took in 30km or singletrack trail running and mountain biking split into four loops.

“The run was along undulating double track with a bit of bush bashing thrown in to keep you on your toes. The mountain bike leg was a mixture of double and single track with some little rock rollovers and technical sections to keep the seasoned mountain biker amused,” said Forsyth.

“I will definitely be back for more Seasons with its great atmosphere and amazing terrain to ride and run through.”

Organisers have confirmed that the Winter edition of Seasons will go ahead on a revised date and an all-new format to accommodate for the changed conditions, which includes guaranteed snow.

“Montane Seasons of Pain Winter edition will be a mix of cross country skiing and trail running/snow shoeing in the main, with a short dash of mountain biking thrown in as the edition’s unique ‘Sting’,” says Race Director, Grant Seamer. “The course won’t necessarily be as long, but it’ll be all on snow, so it will still be tough but fun.”

Now slated for 10 August, 2013, the Winter Montane Seasons of Pain will inaugurate a unique event on the multisport calendar, being the only format of its kind in Australia.

“As far as we know there are no other XC ski combined with snow shoe, trail run and mountain bike events in Australia,” said Seamer. “And the event will take place on the Saturday prior to the annual Tullicoutty Cup, a Nordic ski style event taking in 8.5km and 5 km courses. So the Seasons event will make a great warm up for XC skiers in that event.”

The Spring edition of Montane Seasons of Pain will return to the trail run and mountain bike format.

MONTANE SEASONS OF PAIN WINTER EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY 10th AUGUST 2013. 
MONTANE SEASONS OF PAIN SPRING EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY 23rd NOVEMBER 2013.

More information and entries at www.mtbawbaw.com.au

RESULTS MALE:

1.     Steve Rennick 02:24:22

2.     Aaron Dodd 02:31:15

3.     Tegyn Angel 02:44:26

RESULTS FEMALE:

1.     Jade Forsyth 3:04:35

2.     Lucy Bartholomew 03:16:25

3.     Aislinn Prendergast 03:19:59

TEAM WINNER: Team Brady 02:47:22