Port Douglas welcomes back 25th Crocodile Trophy race
EVENTS
Scenic Four Mile Beach will be the perfect setting for the conclusion of the 25th edition of the Crocodile Trophy mountain bike classic on Saturday 19 October.
Since 2014 Port Douglas has hosted this iconic event and riders from across the world and Australia will complete the eighth stage when they hit the white sands of this pristine beach.
The legendary eight-day mountain bike races through Tropical North Queensland and starts in Cairns on 12 October.
The competitors will cover 700km of racing on the Atherton Tablelands with the following stage finishes: Ringers Rest Function Venue will be hosting two stages for the first time; stages 3 and 4 will finish at Wondecla near Herberton; Skybury Coffee Plantation will host the race for two days again as in previous years; and for the first time in the history of the event, the Crocodile Trophy peloton will actually encounter real crocodiles during the race.
Hartley's Crocodile Adventures will be the finish on day seven and will host the racers and organisation for the night. The last stage will take the racers back up onto the ridge line and then down the infamous Bump Track and into Port Douglas, where they will finish on Four Mile Beach.
The Crocodile Trophy also offers a three-day racing option, which captures what the race is all about in the final three stages.
Under the new name of "Croc Elements" three day competitors can line up at Skybury for a marathon stage on day six of the main event and get a feel for the international atmosphere and racing experience that is so unique and has defined the event since its inception in the mid-90s.
Local mountain biker and course designer Brendon Skerke said the event truly puts this region on the World Map of mountain biking.
“This year we use more single track at both Atherton and Davies Creek Mountain Bike Parks than ever before and I look forward to seeing the excitement on the faces of my fellow racers when we cross the line on Four Mile Beach," he said.
Skerke said in return for both Atherton and Mareeba Clubs’ generous hospitality, the Croc Trophy has already donated more than $12,000 in cash and prizes to promote grass root events and for ongoing maintenance and future projects.
“Already nearly $4000 of the donated money is being put to good use with the tireless work of their volunteers and the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Services preparing their beautiful trails for the Croc and local events,” said Skerke.
Eight-stage breakdown
STAGE 1: CAIRNS – RINGERS REST 12.10.2019 -- 84 km
STAGE 2: RINGERS REST - RINGERS REST 13.10.2019 -- 76 km
Stages 1 + 2 will be hosted by Ringer’s Rest, a beautiful bush property for an amazing Aussie experience near Mareeba.
STAGE 3: RINGERS REST - WONDECLA 14.10.2019 -- 74 km
STAGE 4: Wondecla - Wondecla 15.10.2019 -- 98 km est + QUEEN Stage
For Stages 3 + 4 our Croc Camp moves on to Wondecla on the Atherton Tableland.
STAGE 5: WONDECLA – SKYBURY COFFEE 16.10.2019 -- 120 km
STAGE 6: SKYBURY – SKYBURY 17.10.2019 -- 125 km
Heading into the tropical north for Stages 5 + 6 with the Croc Camp at the magnificent Skybury Coffee Plantation.
STAGE 7: SKYBURY – HARTLEY'S CROCODILE ADVENTURES 18.10.2019 --
82 km
Stage 7 will be a treat as the competitors race towards the coast and finish at Hartley’s Crocodile Adventures, setting up Croc Camp at their Croc Farm for the night.
STAGE 8 TIME TRIAL: Greg Parr Stage -- HARTLEY'S CROCODILE ADVENTURES – PORT DOUGLAS -- 19.10.2019 -- 34 km
The big finale racing back up to the range and back down the infamous Bump Track with a well-deserved finish on Four Mile Beach. The ultimate reward on day eight for 700km in the saddle.
For more information: http://www.croctrophy.com/visitor-landing-2019/
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