Canadians claim Crocodlie Trophy

Canadian elite racer Eandre Bouchard successfully defended his lead to claim the overall 2017 MEPT – Crocodile Trophy race victory after eight gruelling stages. He dominated the field for the final week, with fellow Canuck Andrew L'Esperance pinching the final stage win on the 30km indiviual time trial into Port Douglas.

Amateur category winner Erik Dekker from the Netherlands finished in third outright ahead of Australia's Daniel Beresford and elite racer Ben May.

The winning female was elite racer Haley Smith -another Canadian, and the parner of Andrew - ahead of amateur racer Daniela Erni Ruoss from Switzerland.

Riders from 17 countries started the 23rd edition of the world's and Australia's oldest and most legendary mountain bike stage race in Cairns, making their way through the Atherton Tablelands to the tropical Skybury Coffee Plantation. Wetherby Cattle Station was the stage finish for two stages, before the final race finish in Port Douglas.

Overall, the Crocodile Trophy finishers 2017 completed more than 660km and climbed over 10,000m in eight days.

“I'm really happy that I was able to take most of my lead across the finish line”, said a relieved Bouchard in Port Douglas after a total 27h15:59.5 of intense racing behind him. He said that the race had been more challenging than he had expected. “This is definitely a race for a tough person.” 

Smith - the only Elite Woman racing in this year's event - was impressed with her fellow riders. “I was also surprised by how tough the other athletes were," she said. "A lot of the athletes that complete the event are not full-time athletes, and I found it so inspiring to see them just crushing it every day.”

 - Juliane Wisata, Rocky Trail Media