Published October 23, 2008 01:27PM
Czechs crushing Crocodile competition
Tomas Trunschka took a hard-fought stage win on Thursday — his second in three days — to keep the Czech team VIG+ Racing atop the leaderboard in the 2008 Crocodile Trophy.
The Czechs attacked early in the 122km stage from the rainforest of Koombooloomba Dam to the outback cattle station at Gunnawarra Lagoon. Martin Horak got the ball rolling when the lead bunch entered the mountainous, technical powerline track, which has claimed many victims in this race.
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Tomas Trunschka (VIG+ Racing) in stage 3 of the Crocodile Trophy.
Photo: John Flynn-Crocodile Trophy
Tomas Trunschka took a hard-fought stage win on Thursday — his second in three days — to keep the Czech team VIG+ Racing atop the leaderboard in the 2008 Crocodile Trophy.
The Czechs attacked early in the 122km stage from the rainforest of Koombooloomba Dam to the outback cattle station at Gunnawarra Lagoon. Martin Horak got the ball rolling when the lead bunch entered the mountainous, technical powerline track, which has claimed many victims in this race.
2008 Crocodile Trophy, stage 3: Eric Vanderaerde on foot.
Photo: courtesy
Belgian Nic Vermeulen (Team Lingier) and Australian solo entrant Craig Gordon kept a close eye on overall leader Ondrej Fojtik (VIG+ Racing), and at the end of the steep, rocky climbs and daring descents just four riders remained in the hunt — Gordon, Vermeulen, Fojtik and Trunschka.
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The Czechs had the advantage, and a series of attacks erupted on the dead-straight red dirt road to Gunnawarra Lagoon. Gordon fought to stay in contention and Vermeulen gave it everything as Trunschka and Fojtik took turns launching themselves off the front, eventually finishing one-two on the day.
“It was hot, very hot, but nice track; with the Czech team it is difficult,” said Vermeulen, who finished third. “On the technical I’m maybe the best. Then for the finish is one against three Czechs. The Australian was good but he could just follow.”
2008 Crocodile Trophy, stage 3: Race leader Jo Bennett and Karen Steurs.
Photo: courtesy
Gordon, who finished fourth, called it “a hard day, a little bit disappointing,” adding, “The Czechs look like they’ve got this race sewn up. They’ve got a strong team and there’s quite a few guys there working. Very, very strong. “
As for Trunschka, he said the finale “was very fast.”
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“I am happy to be the winner,” he said. “It’s very special for us because the target for us, for our team, our target is to win this race and to have people in the first three places. We can say after the fifth stage who will be the leader of us three guys — myself, Horak and Fojtik.”
Meanwhile, Australia’s Jo Bennett (Merida Flight Centre) leads the women’s race, outsprinting Belgian Karen Steurs to win stage three.
“We were together until the finish today and Tim was a big help,” Jo Bennett said. “Karen and I had a sprint and I managed to get the win, which was great, but there’s still a long way to go and she’s very strong.”
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Results
Stage 2 results: | ( GC standings )
1. Tomas Trunschka (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 4:37:52 Elite
2. Ondrej Fojtik (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 4:38:32 at 0:00:40 Elite
3. Nicolas Vermeulen (BEL) in 4:39:24 at 0:01:32 Elite
4. Craig Gordon (AUS) Rockstar in 4:40:20 at 0:02:28 Elite
5. Martin Horak (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 4:40:20 at 0:02:28 Elite
6. Robert Novotny (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 4:48:41 at 0:10:49 Elite
7. Zdenek Kriz (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 5:01:43 at 0:23:51 M1
8. Kris Hertsens (BEL) in 5:01:43 at 0:23:51 M1
9. Ivan Rybarik (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 5:13:51 at 0:35:59 Elite
10. Adrian Jackson (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 5:16:07 at 0:38:15 Elite
11. Nick Both (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 5:16:32 at 0:38:40 Elite
12. Axel Strauss (AUT) in 5:17:39 at 0:39:47 M2
13. Christian Birngruber (AUT) in 5:18:06 at 0:40:14 Elite
14. Daniel Wyss (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 5:19:53 at 0:42:01 M1
15. Benedikt De Vreese (BEL) Winter Vreese in 5:19:53 at 0:42:01 Elite
16. Nathan Dyke (AUS) Tkm / Slattery Team in 5:27:17 at 0:49:25 Elite
17. Tomas Kozak (CZE) Laser Steel Plzen in 5:29:25 at 0:51:33 Elite
18. Joanne Bennett (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 2 in 5:30:42 at 0:52:50 Female
19. Karen Steurs (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 5:30:49 at 0:52:57 Female
20. Tim Bennett (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 5:31:05 at 0:53:13 Elite
21. Christophe Huybrighs (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 5:31:06 at 0:53:14 Elite
22. Stefaniak Wojciech (POL) in 5:31:11 at 0:53:19 Elite
23. Stephens Reece (AUS) Tkm / Slattery Team in 5:31:28 at 0:53:36 M1
24. Jiri Kriz (CZE) Vig+masters in 5:33:55 at 0:56:03 M2
25. Issac Tonello (AUS) in 5:48:18 at 1:10:26 M1
26. Matt Powell (AUS) in 5:48:18 at 1:10:26 M1
27. Kejval Lubos (CZE) Vig+masters in 5:54:23 at 1:16:31 M1
28. Ladislav Drda (CZE) Vig+masters in 5:54:24 at 1:16:32 M2
29. Gillis Van Loon (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 5:54:29 at 1:16:37 Elite
30. Beat Imhof (SUI) in 5:57:39 at 1:19:47 M2
31. Raf De Bakker (BEL) in 6:03:43 at 1:25:51 Elite
32. Erik Goeleven (BEL) Team Moozes in 6:03:44 at 1:25:52 M1
33. Marc Roggen (BEL) in 6:04:20 at 1:26:28 M2
34. Darren O’grady (AUS) Dream Team in 6:04:27 at 1:26:35 M2
35. Naomi Hansen (AUS) Dream Team in 6:04:28 at 1:26:36 Female
36. Eric Vanderaerden (BEL) Marc Herremans Foundation in 6:04:30 at 1:26:38 M2
37. Luc Gielen (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 6:15:02 at 1:37:10 M2
38. Alfred Schabauer (AUT) in 6:19:40 at 1:41:48 Elite
39. Bart Decroubele (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 6:19:47 at 1:41:55 Elite
40. Ewald Clavadetscher (SUI) in 6:20:12 at 1:42:20 M2
41. Peter Geldhof (BEL) Teamnomadesk.com in 6:25:43 at 1:47:51 M1
42. Bart Vancayzeele (BEL) in 6:26:50 at 1:48:58 M1
43. Mikkel Wichmann (DEN) in 6:28:33 at 1:50:41 M1
44. Kristof Vanspauwen (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 6:30:19 at 1:52:27 M1
45. Karel De Winter (BEL) Winter Vreese in 6:31:39 at 1:53:47 Elite
46. Steven Boury (BEL) in 6:31:40 at 1:53:48 Elite
47. Ermanno Piccaro (ITA) Asd Vigili Del Fuoco-Latina-Cinelli-Corratec in 6:33:13 at 1:55:21 M1
48. Jos Kerkhofs (BEL) Marc Herremans Foundation in 6:41:46 at 2:03:54 M2
49. Philipp Zenklusen (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 6:43:49 at 2:05:57 M1
50. Gunter Selleslagh (BEL) in 6:43:49 at 2:05:57 M1
51. Ruedi Senn (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 6:44:23 at 2:06:31 M2
GC after stage 3: | ( Stage results )
1. Ondrej Fojtik (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 10:39:45 Elite
2. Tomas Trunschka (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 10:43:45 Elite
3. Martin Horak (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 10:49:04 Elite
4. Nicolas Vermeulen (BEL) in 10:50:50 Elite
5. Craig Gordon (AUS) Rockstar in 10:57:36 Elite
6. Robert Novotny (CZE) Vig+racing Team 2 in 11:18:54 Elite
7. Ivan Rybarik (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 11:23:20 Elite
8. Kris Hertsens (BEL) in 11:34:27 M1
9. Nick Both (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 11:36:52 Elite
10. Adrian Jackson (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 11:37:08 Elite
11. Tomas Kozak (CZE) Laser Steel Plzen in 11:47:17 Elite
12. Christian Birngruber (AUT) in 11:47:20 Elite
13. Zdenek Kriz (CZE) Vig+racing 1 in 11:49:01 M1
14. Tim Bennett (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 1 in 11:51:25 Elite
15. Stephens Reece (AUS) Tkm / Slattery Team in 12:00:39 M1
16. Benedikt De Vreese (BEL) Winter Vreese in 12:05:40 Elite
17. Axel Strauss (AUT) in 12:07:01 M2
18. Daniel Wyss (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 12:14:19 M1
19. Nathan Dyke (AUS) Tkm / Slattery Team in 12:29:58 Elite
20. Joanne Bennett (AUS) Merida – Flight Centre 2 in 12:34:30 Female
21. Karen Steurs (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 12:37:38 Female
22. Stefaniak Wojciech (POL) in 12:37:43 Elite
23. Christophe Huybrighs (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 12:39:02 Elite
24. Kejval Lubos (CZE) Vig+masters in 12:41:41 M1
25. Issac Tonello (AUS) in 12:48:30 M1
26. Jiri Kriz (CZE) Vig+masters in 12:54:01 M2
27. Ladislav Drda (CZE) Vig+masters in 12:56:26 M2
28. Gillis Van Loon (BEL) Team Ride For Stars in 13:06:43 Elite
29. Alfred Schabauer (AUT) in 13:09:11 Elite
30. Matt Powell (AUS) in 13:10:10 M1
31. Marc Roggen (BEL) in 13:18:07 M2
32. Raf De Bakker (BEL) in 13:23:15 Elite
33. Guido De Jong (NED) in 13:23:31 M1
34. Beat Imhof (SUI) in 13:23:41 M2
35. Erik Goeleven (BEL) Team Moozes in 13:34:19 M1
36. Darren O’grady (AUS) Dream Team in 13:35:44 M2
37. Philipp Zenklusen (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 13:45:27 M1
38. Ruedi Senn (SUI) Swisscrocs08 in 13:46:01 M2
39. Eric Vanderaerden (BEL) Marc Herremans Foundation in 13:53:44 M2
40. Steven Boury (BEL) in 13:54:41 Elite
41. Ewald Clavadetscher (SUI) in 13:54:47 M2
42. Naomi Hansen (AUS) Dream Team in 13:57:47 Female
43. Luc Gielen (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 14:04:32 M2
44. Karel De Winter (BEL) Winter Vreese in 14:10:04 Elite
45. Bart Vancayzeele (BEL) in 14:13:54 M1
46. Petr Uhlik (CZE) in 14:14:48 Elite
47. Tim Calkins (USA) Tkm / Slattery Team in 14:22:38 Elite
48. Bart Decroubele (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 14:24:57 Elite
49. Mikkel Wichmann (DEN) in 14:33:51 M1
50. Peter Geldhof (BEL) Teamnomadesk.com in 14:34:07 M1
51. Kristof Vanspauwen (BEL) Team Belgian Power in 14:35:26 M1
52. Ermanno Piccaro (ITA) Asd Vigili Del Fuoco-Latina-Cinelli-Corratec in 14:59:34 M1
53. Jos Kerkhofs (BEL) Marc Herremans Foundation in 15:13:08 M2
54. Georg Vinczencz (AUT) in 15:15:26 M2
55. Gunter Selleslagh (BEL) in 15:24:22 M1
56. Guy Lemmens (BEL) Team Moozes in 15:24:40 M1
57. Marc Withofs (BEL) in 15:50:36 M2
58. Bert Apers (BEL) in 16:16:14 M1
59. Thomas Sollich (GER) Dream Team in 16:20:38 M2
60. Patrick Van Gelder (BEL) Team Moozes in 16:37:17 M2
61. Mario Vandeweghe (BEL) in 17:15:57 M1
62. Ronny Potter (BEL) Team A.s.p.a in 17:17:34 M2
63. Patrick Mijlemans (BEL) Team A.s.p.a in 17:43:09 M2
64. Rudi Donckers (BEL) Marc Herremans Foundation in 17:58:32 M2
65. Philip Smith (GBR) in 18:04:46 M1
66. Bruno Verwee (BEL) in 21:03:39 M1