The chasing group set a fast pace throughout Stage 4

Stage 4 consisted of three laps of a 28km circuit and I had a great day. The front group was down to 10 guys when I got popped at around 50kms but managed a 5km time trial and got back to the leaders. I was able to stay with them until 10kms to go when I went out the back with two other guys I have been riding with a lot – Justin Morris from Sydney and Kevin Halsey from Belgium. I rolled in in 7^th spot and very satisfied with a hard day. Safely consolidated in 8^th overall.

Nasty rocky climbs aren't the best way to start the day and this climb was loose and sketchy all the way and fast and scary on the way down

Stage 5 was always going to be brutal and the start was particularly nasty. We have been told about an almost unrideable section at 20kms with lots of loose rocks and steep gradients. I decided to go on the attack and see if I could get a gap by the top of the climb at 20kms and hopefully stay with the leaders when they had shelled most people. Three others had the same idea – all of us top 10 overall – and I spent the first half hour of the race at my limit but unfortunately the chase occurred in earnest behind and we had a maximum 30 second break. We got caught three quarters of the way up the climb which was disastrous, but I managed to hang in and then make up a bit of time on the tricky descent down the other side. The four leaders were away and there were four of us in the group behind, including my now good friend Kevin Halsey who is an absolute engine (and was Tom Boonen’s lead out man for 7 years).  We averaged 31kph for the race and I was able to give Ash Hayat a lead out to win M1 for the day and I rolled in 6^th. A couple of other contender dropped away and I had moved up to 7^th place.

Jess Douglas rode strongly through the heat of Stage 6, retaining the leaders jersey

Stage 6 was massive on paper at 189kms and it didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately for me it was a disaster. I was riding well at the 95km mark when the group was down to a dozen or so and my rear tyre let go. I rode for a kilometre uphill trying to stay with my group on a flat hoping that I could crest the climb, give a quick blast of CO2 and continue riding. Unfortunately that didn’t happen and I had to change a tube. I chased manically trying to get back on and was making good ground before I punctured again. I managed another quick change and put in another big chase but just as I was coming to depot 2 the same tyre went down again. I fixed the tyre at Depot 2 and a group rolled with Carl Maroney (mate from Melbourne) and my old friend Kevin who had also punctured a couple of times while in the break.

Rolling into the dust on a very hot Stage 6

The pace of the front troup was brutal on Stage 6, as they charged through tempertaures in excess of 40 degrees for amost 200 KM

All the chasing had sent me deep into the red zone and I had forgotten to keep drinking in between tyre changes. The temperature hit 42 degrees and I as out of water and completely cooked – but with 70kms still to ride across some incredible rough track and deep sand. I stayed with the group for 50kms but was getting dumped on all the hills and would bridge on as it flattened out. I then punctured again – and then once more for good measure – and waved the group goodbye with 20kms to ride. I was in full survival mode for the last hour and told myself not to do anything silly. I had vomited a few times and even though I had lots of water I was struggling to keep anything down. I rolled across the line in 7 hours 30 and a good hour behind where I expected to be. My overall position will have been obliterated and I will have to reassess my goals for the race from here on in. I will have to take it easy tomorrow as I am bound to be cooked and we have another 150kms in the same heat. I am incredibly disappointed but that’s racing. I am determined to finish the race and find some new objectives. I have become friends with the current race leader Jeroen Baelen from the Netherlands as he had a great day today. He had given me a tyre last night and I had given him some CO2 after he had an early puncture today. I might try to recover tomorrow and then help him any way I can. I am potentially still in the hunt for Masters 2 overall but not sure whether to make that the objective or try to help Jeroen win.

The author, at the end of an extremely brutal day. Definitely another one scratched off the "Bucket List'

All in all definitely one of the hardest days I have done on a bike but happy to have smiled (grimaced)

Riders were suffering badly as the heat took it's toll

After acclimatising to the heat of the previous week, the torrential rain was a real shock and totally unexpected by the riders and organisers alike.

The Croc Trophy has started in a way that no one expected: monsoonal rain. The race got underway in downtown Cairns in torrential rain and it’s been with us ever since. None of the competitors or organisers are prepared for the weather – some people don’t even have a long sleeved top to put on at night!

Stage 1 started with a 12.5km climb and the pace was high from the gun. I managed to find myself in the second group – with 7 guys up the road – and was really happy with how I felt and my position. As we got to the top of the climb the organisers screamed at us to stop (in German, no less) as the 4WD lead vehicles hadn’t been able to clear the sections of track that had become a deluge. After waiting at the top of the climb at an info centre for about two hours the decision was made to neutralise the stage. We still had to get to the finish which meant another 90kms in crosswinds on mountain bikes – far from a leisurely ride. I was going OK until I punctured with 40kms to go and had to stop on the side of the road for some running repairs. As frustrating as it was I was happy for it to happen on this day not under race conditions.

Even the four wheel drive support vehicles struggled in the slippery conditions and weren't able to stay ahead of the lead riders

It was a relief to be on bitumen for some sections as many of the trails were severely flooded

Conditions at camp were best described as a flooded mess. It would get worse during the night when our tent started leaking on to my bed (apparently we were not alone). The stretcher beds were the most uncomfortable contraptions I have slept in. It was impossible to sleep on your side so I assumed the coffin position and underwent 8 hours of water torture with intermittent sleep.

A new day broke but the rain didn’t relent for us. Jess and I tripped over each other in the tent as we tried to get our stuff organised including bottles that have to be placed for collection at various points during the day.

The camping has been a very soggy affair with no let up in the torrential downpour

Stage 2 started with a neutralised 17km ride into the town of Atherton where we were greeted by lots of locals, schoolkids and you guessed it: rain. When the flag dropped the pace was amazing – 50kph along a fire road for two kms until we hit the first climb of the day which was the best part of 20kms with a few downhills thrown in. I was slightly off the pace of the leaders and settled in with Ash Hayat and a Korean guy in about 15^th spot. Just as we finished the climb we were joined by a couple of MarathonMTB riders and formed an efficient working group. We rolled turns consistently for 50kms and could see a group ahead which we finally caught at the last feed zone. Ash and I didn’t bother with bottles at the last feed and were able to get some food and water in as we waited for the others to catch us.

This group turned out to be the second on the road with four guys up ahead. All the riders were strong and clearly experienced road riders as there were little surges from these big Dutchies and Swiss riders when we crested the hills or hit a crosswind. We gradually lost guys in our group and were down to 7 for the last 20km run home. The riding had been a mix of asphalt, mud, hardpack gravel and loose stones and it was a tough last few kms. I managed second in the sprint to claim 6^th spot – much better than I had hoped for – and some decent time gaps on other guys who had been with us.  Pandemonium greeted us at the finish as we had beaten our luggage here so the afternoon has been spent trying to stay dry and warm. I now have two sets of kit that I am not looking forward to washing (nor do I know when I will get the chance to)…. Wet shoes for the morning for sure….

Jess Douglas is in fine form and leading the GC in the womens category

Waking up for Stage 3 we weren’t sure what to expect. Rumours had circulated the night before about potential for a) neutralised ride to Irvinebank, b) short race and neutralised on the highway or c) a race of 93km through to Irvinebank. They decided on c) and there was a mixed reaction – there had not been a single minute of non-precipitation.

The author, on the rivet and chasing down those 'quick euros'. Having English as the 'mother tongue' is normally an advantage in Australia, but not in this bunch

I was awarded the Masters leader jersey for the race and took up position near the front. The race started with a massive turn of speed and straight uphill. Within two kms we were down to 9 riders and I had just managed to make the selection. The heart rate was in territory I hadn’t seen for a long time and I was chewing my handlebars at the crest of every climb. We started working turns and gradually the gap to the group behind opened up and I hoped that I would be able to stay with the leaders for a while. I was the only English speaker in the front group and a lot of jibberish in Flemish, Dutch, German and Czech kept me guessing what was being discussed from a tactical perspective.

The asphalt section down the highway consisted of full working turns at 60kph – all of us were at the limit of our mountain bike gear ratios. We turned off the main road into the bush and it instantly got harder. The Korean guy in our group was dangling off the back and for the next 15kms I was on the rivet. Eventually an attack from Huber caused a selection and five guys were away. Three of us regrouped and worked well together and the Korean was back in the dust. With 5kms to go I was feeling toasted but comfortable with my compatriots when I got a puncture coming out of a deep river crossing. My worst nightmare. I was able to do some emergency repairs which cost me a few minutes and enough for the Korean to catch and pass me. I rolled into town in 9^th spot – a great result –but felt cheated by the puncture. I’m not exactly sure of the time gaps back to the groups behind but hopefully still preserved 5 minutes or so on the next crew.

Not sure I will be able to repeat the efforts tomorrow as it’s incredibly hilly around Irvinebank but will give it a shot. Great first few days of racing for me and let’s see if the form can be maintained…