Canadian riding strong in Crocodile Trophy

Canadian Cory Wallace is closing in on a second place finish at the Australian stage race, the Crocodile Trophy. Wallace has maintained a solid position throughout the first seven stages, with two left to race.

The overall leader, Australian Mark Frendo, is nearly 12 minutes up on Wallace, but that margin could be wiped out by one tough day of racing.

Frendo caught Wallace on the individual time trial of Stage 7. The riders started at one minute intervals, and while Wallace finished just ahead of the Australian, the Canadian still lost time to the first-place rider.

Wallace has a lead of nearly 40 minutes over third place rider, Jiri Krivanek, of the Czech Republic.

Stage 8 runs from Laura to Hope Vale, for a distance of 113 km and 1,100 m of climbing. In the past, heavy corrugations have made this a brutal stage, but road improvements should make the going a bit easier. Although the surface may be improved, weather patterns typically include a headwind for much of the day.

The final stage is a 50 km dash from hope Vale to Cooktown, with 500 m of climbing. The headwind is expected to continue, and the first 35 km has a very sandy surface.