WWII explosive blows out start time for trophy
A POTENTIALLY explosive start to the third stage of the Far North’s Crocodile Trophy has been avoided with a military ordnance discovered on the track near Herberton yesterday morning.
Allied forces used the Tablelands as a major staging and training area during World War II with unexploded ordnance frequently discovered throughout the region.
Organisers were forced to detour the explosive device, discovered northwest of Herberton, shortening the stage from 80km to 68km and delaying the start time by 30 minutes.
Once racing was finally underway, the leaders in the men’s field quickly asserted themselves with Swiss duo Konny Looser and Urs Huber crossing the finishing line within a second of each other.
In the women’s stage, Lucy Coldwell finished almost three minutes ahead of Cairns rider Sarah White, while Belgian Sjoukje Dufoer came in third.
Austrian Matthias Grick said the rugged terrain had felt like riding a “rollercoaster through the bush”.
“I’m very motivated and let’s see what the next days bring,” fourth-placed Grick said.
Today’s stage will be a 38km individual time trial to Irvinebank with racing starting from 9.20am. STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 3: MEN 1. 3 Konny Looser 12:54:36 2. 1 Urs Huber 12:54:37 3. 2 Soren Nissen 13:35:30 WOMEN 1. 102 Lucy Coldwell 17:16:56 2. 101 Sarah White 17:44:01 3. 103 Sjoukje Dufoer