Ivan Rybarik wins the 2012 Crocodile Trophy title in Cooktown

Crocodile Trophy 2012
“The hardest, longest and most adventurous
mountain bike stage race in the world.”
Final Stage 9, Laura – Cooktown
140 km, 1150 m
Czech mate - Ivan Rybarik wins the 2012 Crocodile Trophy
title in Cooktown
An excited crowd of spectators welcomed the 2012 Crocodile Trophy winner Ivan Rybarik
(CZE) on Grassy Hill in Cooktown today. On the ninth stage into Cooktown, Josef
Benetseder crowned the Crocodile Trophy 2012 with a stage win for Austria ahead of
Mike Mulkens (BEL) and the Australian Luke Haines. Ondrej Fojtik claims the overall
second place and Wolfgang Krenn comes in third.
Cooktown was Captain Cook’s first landing place and a meeting place for the Aboriginal people
of today’s Far North Queensland. So it seems that it is only fitting that the Crocodile Trophy
racers arrived today at the historic Grassy Hill after days of immense efforts racing their bikes
and experiencing adventures in the Outback together with likeminded cyclists from all over the
world. Together they endured more than 900 kilometers and 16,000 m of climbing and many will
return home having found new friends for life.
Josef Benetseder was the fastest rider of the day and claimed his first Crocodile Trophy stage
win. “Last year I got second three times, so I came back to win a stage”, said the beaming
Austrian road racer today. “It was much harder this year and those technical mountain bike
stages were challenging, but today I knew it was a stage for me.” The field had been started in
staggered starts with the leaders in the GC riding out of Laura onto the wide and undulating
gravel roads last. That way most of the riders arrived together on Grassy Hill and celebrated
their achievements of the past nine days. Mike Mulkens from Belgium was second today and the
Australian Luke Haines third.
Czech rider dominates field
With an impressive performance and four stage wins, Ivan Rybarik is the 2012 Crocodile Trophy
champion. He arrived together with second and third on the podium and after congratulating
Ondrej Fojtik (CZE) and Wolfgang Krenn he of his race, “I just had such a good time racing the
Crocodile Trophy this year.” He added that he wanted to thank his wife Yana and daughter
Elena who had supported him in preparation for the adventure stage race on the other side of
the world and his Rubena Rocky Trail Racing Team, “My business partner Ondrej [Slezak] and
his Hana were great and looked after me these past weeks and motivated me each day. We just
had such a great time, in our team camp the atmosphere was always positive, we were chatting
and talking about biking all the time. It was really the best environment for me to do well this
year.”
Race organiser Gerhard Schönbacher was content on Grassy Hill also, “This year we
implemented a lot of new elements in the Crocodile Trophy. More mountain biking tracks, new
stage destinations and even though the increased participant number meant a much greater
logistical challenge in the Australian Outback, it definitely encourages us to keep improving our
event.” The hardest longest, hottest and most adventurous mountain bike stage race certainly
delivered on its promises this year and will be back in Tropical Far North Queensland in 2013
from 19 – 26 October.
Full race report with winner’s interviews to follow.

Crocodile Trophy 2012
“The hardest, longest and most adventurous
mountain bike stage race in the world.”
Full podium Elite Men overall:
1. Ivan Rybarik (CZE), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing CZE, 34:08:59
2. Ondrej Fojtik (CZE), +17:55
3. Wolfgang Krenn (AUT), +49:18
4. Cory Wallace (CAN), 01:11:06
5. Ondrej Slezak (CZE), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing CZE, 01:28:25
Full podium Women overall:
1. Kate Major (AUS), 42:23:17
2. Alice Pirard (BEL), O2 Bikers – WMTB.be – Schwalbe, 45:38:29
3. Tinneke Van de Voorde (BEL), 53:13:44
4. Annie van der Linde (NED), 59:24:33
5. Jade Forsyth (AUS), 60:09:23
M1 Winner:
1. Werner van der Merwe (UK), Subaru-MarathonMTB.com, 35:15:54
M2 Winner:
1. Marc Baechli (SUI), 37:14;45
M3 Winner:
1. Milan Spolc (CZE), 37:28:15
Adventure Team category elite winners:
1. Mark Griffin / Aaron Lakeman (AUS), Rubena Rocky Trail Racing, 37:48:50 / 37:50:34
Adventure Team category M1 winners:
1. Pierre Paligot / Dirk Abeloos (BEL), Croco RR Team Habay, 57:53:25 / 57:53:38
Team of Three category winners:
Rubena Rocky Trail Racing, Michal Kafka / Ivan Rybarik / Ondrej Slezak (CZE)
Follow the Crocodile Trophy riders online
Crocodile Trophy website – crocodile-trophy.com
Crocodile Trophy media portal - crocodile-trophy.com/trophy/media.html
Crocodile Trophy Facebook – www.facebook.com/CrocodileTrophy
Crocodile Trophy official Twitter hashtag - #croctrophy
Daily updates about Crocodile Trophy on Austrian National TV – check out ORF TVthek
Website links:
Results - http://www.crocodile-trophy.com/trophy/results.html
Photo gallery - http://www.crocodile-trophy.com/trophy/photo.html
High-res photo and video download from our server:
http://www2.croc.at/croc/downloads/Crocodile%20Trophy%202012/
user: croc
PW: croc
=> Select folders PHOTO (images) or FILM (video)
Photos: Crocodile Trophy/Regina Stanger

Crocodile Trophy 2012
“The hardest, longest and most adventurous
mountain bike stage race in the world.”
For more event details and to arrange interviews and coverage please contact:
Gerhard Schönbacher
Organiser
P: +43-676-3047584
E: schoenbacher@croc.at
Thanks to our major sponsors:
Juliane Wisata
Marketing & PR Manager
P: +61 (0)416 737 972
E: juliane@rockytrailentertainment.com
Steve’s Antenna & Satellite Communications, Cape Cork